A Sarnia man banned by the bail courts from being within 100 meters of Rainbow Park after being charged with assaulting a security guard there was arrested last week on an allegation of breaking that rule.
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But Corey Maness, 35, quickly got bail again with new rules that now allow him to be in the controversial Sarnia homeless camp as long as he’s not within 10 meters of the security guard.
Maness is facing charges of possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose – an axe, allegedly – causing a disturbance by fighting, assault, assault with a weapon, uttering death threats, and two counts of breaching probation linked to two separate incidents, one involving Jesse Alleyne, a GardaWorld security guard who works in Rainbow Park, as a complainant.
After being arrested in late August – he was featured on the Sarnia police Wanted Wednesday social media campaign before officers tracked him down – Maness was first granted lease Aug. 29. No money was tied to his lease plan, but it banned him from contacting Alleyne in any way and from being within 100 meters of where he lives, goes to school and works, which included the Christina Street South camp.
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But Maness, originally from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, was arrested again last Monday and charged with breaching lease by allegedly being within 100 meters of Alleyne’s workplace, court records show. During a brief bail hearing later that day, assistant Crown attorney Amir Hage said Maness attended Rainbow Park.
Then he asked justice of the peace Kelly Jackson to remove the workplace term from Maness’ lease and to add a radius protecting Alleyne of 15 meters so Maness can be in the park.
“That way it’s not as prejudicial to Mr. Maness,” Hage explained. “Apparently this park has resources.”
In response to the growing homeless camp in Rainbow Park, the city has run around-the-clock security since July and installed temporary sanitation measures, which cost $90,000 that month alone.
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Jackson agreed to take out the employment term and ordered the new radius around Alleyne to be 10 meters, but left the other rules in place. The previous version of his lease was ordered by a different justice of the peace.
Jackson asked Maness, who was standing in the courtroom’s prisoner’s box, if he had any questions.
“No, ma’am,” he responded.
“He can be released to the body of the court,” she told security.
Sarnia Police Chief Derek Davis said they respect the independence of the courts and their decisions and will continue to work within the law as prescribed.
“However, the reality officers face on the streets is rampant recidivism, victimization, and social disorder. All of which is taking a heavy toll on our community, and not something that police can address alone,” he said Saturday via email. “Our tools are limited in terms of arrest authorities, charges, and release options. However we will continue to do our part, in the best interest of our community, using what tools we have, and making every effort to address the theft, violence, and drugs plaguing our residents.”
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A Sarnia judge and Maness’ own both lawyer expressed concerns earlier this summer over Maness, who has battled a drug addiction for several years, living in Rainbow Park.
“He recognizes it’s not a good situation,” defense lawyer Autumn Johnson said while her client was being sentenced to a short stint in jail for breaching bail and probation.
Maness said at the time he goes there to try and help others and make sure they’re not overdosing.
“You’ve got to help yourself first,” Justice Mark Poland responded at the time.
Although his latest convictions weren’t tied to drug use, the court at the time heard most of his record, which is seven pages long, is.
Maness was sentenced in 2021 to seven months in jail for a series of crimes including possessing a weapon – a high-powered rifle – for a dangerous purpose during a standoff on Montrose Street with the Sarnia police emergency response team. In 2016, he got three years behind bars for a three-month crime spree of vehicle thefts and a crash that injured a woman. He was also sentenced to 60 days in 2013 for assaulting his stepfather.
Maness, who is now facing three sets of charges, is due back in court on Halloween. None of the new charges have been tested in court.
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