Fall River man gets bail on threats, assault charges

A Fall River man has been granted bail on 35 charges, including multiple counts of uttering threats, assault and sexual assault.

A bail hearing for Michael Christopher Cunnane, 51, got underway Dec. 3 in Dartmouth provincial court. Judge Marc Chisholm heard evidence and submissions over two additional days and gave his decision Friday.

The judge ruled Cunnane could be released on a $15,000 bail order with one surety, his mother.

Cunnane is on house arrest at his mother's apartment in Halifax, with exceptions for medical emergencies or appointments, legal commitments, counselling or treatment, seeking employment, and other reasons, as long as he's in her company.

He must remain in Nova Scotia but stay away from the communities of Fall River and Fletchers Lake. He was to be fitted with an electronic monitoring device before his release from the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility in Dartmouth.

The judge ordered Cunnane not to possess any weapons and stipulated that he only use a knife for preparing or consuming food. He's prohibited from occupying the driver's seat of any vehicle and from possessing or consuming alcohol or drugs, and can only use a cellphone or any other device capable of connecting to the internet if his mother is present.

Cunnane is also not allowed to have contact with several complainants or be within 25 metres of their residences, schools or workplaces. He can only return to his home on Clivedon Court on one occasion to obtain personal belongings, accompanied by a police officer and his mother.

The judge also ordered him to report to the Halifax Regional Police headquarters in person every Friday, take all his medications as prescribed by his doctor and participate in a treatment program for borderline personality disorder.

Cunnane had been in custody since Oct. 30, when RCMP arrested him at his home. He faces 24 charges in connection with that investigation, including 12 counts of uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, four counts of assault, two of breaching a release order, and one each of unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of an illegal firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, assault with a weapon, uttering threats to damage property, and breaching an undertaking.

Earlier this month, an RCMP spokeswoman said many of the threats charges involve police officers.

Prior to that arrest, Cunnane had been charged with four counts of sexual assault, six counts of breaching an undertaking or a release order, and one of uttering threats.

The Crown opposed Cunnane's release. The judge placed a publication ban on details of the bail hearing at the request of the defence.

The charges are due back in court this week.