Justice: Loeman pleads guilty to firing rifle on Broadway Boulevard

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Madeleine Leclerc
the victoria star

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A mandatory change of residence will not include this offender's favourite watering hole as John Loeman, 42, of Saint John, found out when he appeared before Grand Falls provincial court judge Paul Duffie for sentencing on Nov. 17. Loeman pleaded guilty to all seven charges laid against him by the Grand Falls Town Police in the wake of a shooting incident which occurred on Aug. 11, shortly before midnight on Broadway Boulevard.

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submitted photo

John Loeman, shown with Grand Falls Town Police Investigator Chanel Roy during an earlier court appearance in Edmundston, was sentenced to a four-year penitentiary term on Nov. 17 for a series of charges stemming from a shooting incident on Aug. 11 in downtown Grand Falls.

Loeman was sentenced to four years in a federal penitentiary for having in his possession a .30-.30 calibre Winchester rifle for a dangerous purpose, having in his possession of the rifle while he was prohibited from doing so by an order made under the Criminal Code of Canada on May 30, 2008; using a firearm in a careless manner; having in his possession a prohibited weapon without being the holder of a licence; having in his possession a stolen rifle; unlawfully having cannabis (marijuana) in his possession; and committing a breach of his probation by failing to keep the peace and be of good behaviour.

"I guess going to Dooly's for a drink is out of the question," stated Loeman.

"You're going to have another residence for a while," replied Judge Duffie.

"All seven counts deal with the same facts. On Aug. 11, at 11:53 p.m., town police responded to a 911 call pertaining to possible shots fired in front of Dooly's," stated Crown prosecutor Charles Couturier.

"Three shots had been fired and heard by multiple persons. When police officers arrived on the scene, they observed an unknown individual who was sitting on a sidewalk bench directly in front of the Royal Bank. While they were still in their car, they saw another individual walking toward the unknown male and proceeded to tackle him. The gesture pushed the individual away from a firearm which police were not aware of at the time. Police officers immediately broke the altercation between the two men. Loeman admitted having a wide range of weapons in his possession including a shotgun, knives and ammunition. He also admitted to shooting off the firearm. He was put under arrest for firearm offences at the time," Couturier said.

A sawed-off rifle was found in the garbage can next to the bench.

"Loeman told police that he had had dealings with organized crime. When asked by police why he was in Grand Falls, Loeman replied: "Blood". Statements obtained from witnesses indicated that Loeman had been seen with the firearm in his hands. He had also been observed shooting the firearm while he was sitting in front of the Royal Bank," he added.

"A search of the immediate area also located spent 30-30 casings. Police found a duffel bag on the bench in which Loeman claimed he had various weapons," Couturier said.

Police seized nineteen 30-30 shells and a rifle. Pictures of the rifles found in the garbage can were entered as evidence by the Crown.

At the time of his arrest, Loeman was prohibited from possessing any firearms until 2018.

"The weapon used by Loeman had been modified. Its barrel had been sawed off. A search of its serial number showed that the weapon had been stolen from a Perth-Andover residence," Couturier told the court.

Police also found three grams of marijuana on Loeman.

"He discharged a stolen and modified weapon in downtown Grand Falls," added Couturier, while entering Loeman's psychological report from the Restigouche Health Centre in Campbellton and prior criminal record as evidence. Loeman had been kept in custody at the St. Hilaire Correctional Centre since his arrest on Oct. 12.

A joint recommendation by the Crown and Loeman's lawyer David Lutz was for four years in a federal prison and a lifetime weapons prohibition.

"This is a quiet town and when someone shoots off a gun, it wakes up a lot of people. There is no question about that," stated Judge Duffie.

"Apparently so. I must have woken up a lot of people," stated Loeman.

"At times, it seems you are an intelligent guy. I've had a chance to speak with you several times. But, it would seem that you lose your grip on reality at times," Judge Duffie said.

"Someone could have got shot, especially the guy who thought he was Superman and tried to tackle me," Loeman said.

In addition to the four-year prison term, Loeman received a lifetime prohibition from possessing any firearms, ammunition and explosive substances.