DAWSON CREEK, B.C. - A Dawson Creek man well known to police is no longer facing a series of serious charges connected to an alleged armed home invasion in the Doe River area, after Crown prosecutors stayed the case earlier this month.
Court records show Ben Touchette and co-accused Joel Thomas had been charged in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred on April 21, 2024.
The charges included robbery with a firearm, unlawful confinement, break and enter, assault with a weapon, pointing a firearm, several firearms-related offences and disguising a face with intent to commit an offence.
The court file also alleged the occupant of the home suffered injuries during the incident.
The charges were stayed on July 15. The B.C. Prosecution Service said the decision was made after additional information was received by the prosecutor handling the case.
Ann Seymour, Acting Communications Counsel with the Ministry of Attorney General, said, the prosecutor reviewed the new information along with the rest of the file materials and concluded the charge approval standard could no longer be met.
The B.C. Prosecution Service said charges can only proceed when Crown counsel determines there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and that a prosecution is required in the public interest.
Prosecutors must continually assess whether the available evidence meets that threshold as a case moves through the court system.
According to the prosecution service, a stay of proceedings is appropriate when prosecutors determine the evidentiary standard is no longer met or a prosecution is no longer required in the public interest.
In this case, Crown said the prosecutor concluded the test could no longer be satisfied and directed the stay of proceedings.
Touchette is no stranger to the courts or police. In October 2025, he was charged with six weapons-related offences, including allegations he breached conditions of a release order prohibiting him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Touchette remains in custody. He is also one of three men charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 2023 killing of Rob Girbav in Dawson Creek.
The B.C. Prosecution Service approved the murder charge following an investigation led by the RCMP North District Major Crime Unit.
Under Canadian law, a stay of proceedings can be revived within one year if prosecutors determine there is a basis to continue the prosecution.
After that period expires, the stay becomes permanent. The B.C. Prosecution Service did not indicate whether the stayed Doe River charges could be revived.