Three additional charges have been laid against a local man who was already facing 11 charges in relation to an intimate partner violence investigation, including assault with a B.B. gun and various weapons charges.
David McMaster, age 44 of no fixed address, was arrested by Sault Police on Jan. 31 and is still being held pending a bail hearing. None of the allegations have been tested in court and McMaster is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Recently, Sault Ste. Marie added three additional charges to the 11 McMaster was already facing. Each of those three charges was laid in relation to possession of a prohibited weapon — two maces and a morning star.
McMaster’s name and the original 11 charges against him were not sent to the media at the time of his arrest because the incident was deemed a case of intimate partner violence (IPV). Sault Police do not typically disclose the names of suspects in IPV cases because that information could identify the victim.
There is currently no publication ban on the details in the court filing involving McMaster. However, SooToday is not naming the victim in this case and did seek and receive her consent to publish the charges against McMaster.
The original 11 charges include:
• Three counts of assault with a weapon
• Assault
• Uttering death threat
• Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose
• Mischief - Domestic
• Two counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm
• Two counts knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm
According to the charge sheet, McMaster is accused of using a BB gun and a bottle against the victim sometime between June 1 and Sept. 30 of last year. A candle was allegedly used against the victim on Jan. 27.
The assault charge and uttering a death threat allegedly occurred on Jan. 1.
The charge sheet also notes McMaster does not hold a licence for the shotgun he allegedly had in his possession on the day of his arrest.
McMaster appeared in bail court on Thursday but remains in custody. He is scheduled to appear in video remand court on Feb. 29 as his defence works on a bail plan.