The two men accused in the Hants County cross-burning case now face the additional charge of criminal harassment.
Nathan Neil Rehberg, aged 20, and Justin Chad Rehberg, aged 19, appeared briefly in Windsor Provincial Court Monday, March 1. The pair had been charged with public incitement of hatred, mischief and uttering threats after someone lit a cross on fire and uttered racial slurs at the home of Shane Howe and Michelle Lyon Sunday Feb. 20.
Cst. Sullivan of the Windsor Rural RCMP said the new charge was included because it “fit the case.”
Monday’s arraignment hearing was adjourned until March 2 and the pair remains in custody. The charge of incitement of hatred carries a maximum jail sentence of two years.
Public Prosecutor Bill Ferguson couldn’t comment on whether or not the Crown would be seeking the maximum sentence should the case go to trial and the accused found guilty. “At this point until I sit down and talk with the RCMP I really can’t say what direction we will take.”
Howe and Lyon were present at the Windsor Court House Monday but were not able to observe the proceeding because of delays due to added security measures.
Howe said it was a “disappointing morning” for the couple. “This just means another day of waiting and thinking about it. There is no justice for us today.”
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Howe says he biggest fear is that the accused will be released back into the community. “If they get released on bail I’ll still be living at home but my family won’t be.”
Lyon said although they love their community and have felt safer knowing there is support out there they need to put their children first.
A dozen or so young persons and personal friends of Justin and Shane Rehberg were also present that morning; some took the day off school to attend court. One grade 12 Avon View student who asked that her name not be released said Justin Rehberg is not a racist. “I don’t believe that was their intention to be racist or for things to go this far. This has to do with their own personal problems. They just made a bad choice.”
She attends school with Justin Rehberg and said he has many black friends at the school. The atmosphere at the local high school has been tense, she adds, but there have been no confrontations since Rehbergs’ arrest. “We feel it’s important that we are here today. There are a few people at school that are mad and ticked off but the ones that know Justin are just trying to understand.”
Defense Lawyer, Karen Armour of Nova Scotia Legal Aid could not be reached for comment.쇓
