DAWSON CREEK -- Despite pleas for a Provincial Court Judge to do his job and think of the safety of the residents of Dawson Creek, a man with a long and violent criminal history has been released on bail.

In a rare occurrence, MLA Mike Bernier urged Judge David Ruse to protect the public.

Bernier pleaded with the Ruse to deny bail to Jesse Stevens, who was arrested last week on a charge of attempted murder and robbery after being on the run for 4 months.

It’s not the first time Stevens tried to evade police. In November 2021, Stevens was on the run, wanted for aggravated assault. Stevens surrendered to police in 2021, but was immediately released on bail by a judge.

In letting Stevens go Wednesday, Judge Ruse also ignored the wishes of Crown Prosecutors who had asked that Stevens be denied bail and be kept behind bars until trial.

Stevens was released on $5000 bail and will now have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet.

Bernier said this is BC’s failed justice system at work. “I am deeply disappointment in the decision. It highlights just how broken the judicial system is”

The law requires a judge to consider the principle of restraint and the legal requirement to impose the least restrictive conditions that necessary to protect the public.

At the beginning of the year, Ottawa passed Bill C-48 that places a "reverse onus" on offenders to be released on bail and to usher in meaningful reform intended to increase community safety.

Last year BC’s Attorney General gave clear direction to BC prosecutors and judges to get tough on repeat and violent offenders seeking bail.

Despite the federal bill passing and the directive from Niki Sharma, Judge David Ruse is seeking options that could see Stevens released on bail.

“Police have done their job. We finally have somebody behind bars. It's now out of the RCMP’s control. How frustrating is it for the police? All of a sudden officers do all this work and just have a judge basically snap his fingers and say, don't worry trust me, back on the street you go,” said Bernier.

Judge Ruse does not live and work in the Peace Region. The judge, who has less than 2 years experience on the bench lives in the Okanagan.

The Canadian Bar Association contacted CJDC TV News after our original story aired last week. They wanted to rebut issues contained in the story but refused to be interviewed.

The Canadian Bar Association asked if they could submit an Opinion Piece instead. They were told that the job of journalists was to hold public figures and public bodies accountable on behalf of all British Columbians. CJDC TV told the Law Society that our viewers and readers would not benefit from their opinions about oversight going unchallenged.

Instead the Canadian Bar Association wrote an Op/Ed piece and it was accepted and ran by one of our competitors.

“We need to step up, whether it's provincial or federal, and end this catch and release program. We're talking about public safety. We have somebody who is already well known to the RCMP, is known for breaking the law in a violent way, who is known for not following through with bail conditions. In what world do we think that this is adequate to let this person back out on the streets and say, don't worry, we'll trust you?” said Bernier last week.

None of the allegations have been proven in a court of law.