Jodi Henrickson’s ex-boyfriend Gavin Arnott charged with assaulting woman in Alta.
The ex-boyfriend of missing B.C. teenager Jodi Henrickson was recently charged with assaulting a woman in Alberta, but the charges were withdrawn due to an unco-operative witness, CTV News has learned.
Court documents show Gavin Arnott was accused of assault, assault with a weapon and mischief under $5,000 in connection with an incident near Drayton Valley, Alta., back in August.
Retired RCMP officer Peter Cross, who helped investigate Henrickson’s disappearance, told CTV News the alleged victim was Arnott’s common-law partner.
Arnott was due to appear in Drayton Valley provincial court on Nov. 19 to enter a plea before a “key witness declined to participate” in the case, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service confirmed in an email.
“As such, there was as no reasonable likelihood of a conviction and the charges were withdrawn,” the ACPS said.
According to court documents, Arnott was accused of assaulting the woman and using a “filled toy bin” as a weapon against her. He also allegedly damaged a coffee table and a toy airplane she owned.
Henrickson documentary in the works
Cross is currently working with Studio BRB, a Vancouver-based production company, on the documentary “Finding Jodi,” which delves into the Henrickson case.
The 17-year-old Squamish resident disappeared in 2009 after attending a party on Bowen Island. Arnott, now 35, had been charged with assaulting Henrickson months before she went missing, when they were dating.
“For several weeks we have been endeavouring to speak with Gavin, who was a person of interest to the police in 2009 and remains a person of interest in our documentary investigation into the Jodi Hendrickson missing person case on Bowen Island,” said Studio BRB in a statement.
“He has confirmed to the police and the media that he was the last person to see her alive.”
Arnott’s name resurfaced in the media again in 2011 after he was charged with sexual interference and possession of child pornography.
Court documents detailed how Arnott allegedly contacted a 14-year-old girl and had sex with her. The age of consent in Canada is 16.
Arnott was convicted of sexual interference the following year and sentenced to 34 days in jail, while the child pornography charge was withdrawn. He was also handed an 18-month probation order, an 18-month firearms prohibition, and a 10-year placement on the national sex offender registry.
He later received another 30 days for breach of an undertaking for violating his conditions, according to North Vancouver provincial court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike
Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week.
Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions
The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country’s three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week.
'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves
Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance.
'Little girl deserves justice': Gallery erupts in anger as charges stayed against driver who killed child
In a tense courtroom, a judge stayed the charge against a Saskatoon woman who hit and killed a nine-year-old girl.
Is a white Christmas in the cards? Looking back at Canada's Dec. 25 snow history
With fewer than two weeks remaining until Christmas Day, weather forecasts and snowfall projections are starting to take shape but have yet to be finalized for cities across Canada.
Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the upcoming fall economic statement on Monday will remove the cap that currently restricts Canadian pension funds from owning more than 30 per cent of the voting shares of a Canadian entity.
Drones, planes or UFOs? Americans abuzz over mysterious New Jersey sightings
It's unclear if it's drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward.
Mysterious googly eyes go viral after appearing on public art in Oregon
Googly eyes have been appearing on sculptures around the central Oregon city of Bend, delighting many residents and sparking a viral sensation covered widely by news outlets and featured on a popular late-night talk show.
Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump wants to turn the lights out on daylight saving time.