A Prince George provincial court judge released a man on bail Monday, March 31 while he awaits trials for multiple charges of possession of firearms and other weapons and breach of a court order.
Michael John Fulton, born in 1980, is scheduled to face trial on April 14 for six counts related to a March 8, 2024 incident. He is also scheduled for trial on May 6 related to four counts from an incident on Aug. 7, 2024.
Court heard that Fulton was released four days after his March 2024 arrest on conditions that he report to a bail supervisor and not possess weapons. A warrant was issued for his arrest on April 11, 2024, alleging he failed to report. He was arrested again May 27, 2024 and released on the same conditions four days later.
On Aug. 7, 2024, an RCMP officer noticed Fulton driving an electric kick scooter on 10th Avenue at 9:23 p.m. Fulton was not wearing a helmet and the scooter, which had no lights for night driving, was not approved for road use in Prince George.
Judge Cassandra Malfair noted that Fulton had been in custody since then and is an Indigenous male with no prior criminal record. The offences for which he was charged did not involve violence and the standard presumption of innocence applies.
Malfair said Fulton’s lawyer proposed a “strong bail plan” of round-the-clock house arrest, electronic monitory and a surety. Malfair said Fulton has no conviction for breaching court orders and the risk he poses to the public can be reduced. “But, just barely,” she said.
Malfair said the bail plan contemplates Fulton staying away from “negative peer associations and away from the drug underworld.”
“In releasing Mr. Fulton, I am strongly motivated by the representation that his eight months in custody has provided a sufficient break from his circumstances in 2024, such that the court can now have some confidence that he would not come into contact with police,” Malfair said.
Malfair released Fulton on a promise to pay $1,000, one named surety, report to a bail officer and to live under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
Other conditions include no possession of alcohol, drugs or weapons, no contact with two co-accused and to stay away from the Canadian Tire in Prince George.
