Re: Chase Benjamin Rienguette
ORB File No: 7324
Hearing held on: Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Place of hearing: North Bay Regional Health Centre
Pursuant to: Sections 672.48(1) & 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code
Before:
Alternate Chairperson: Mr. P. Hageraats
Members: Dr. J. Watts
Dr. G. Stones
Ms. M. Chamberlain
Ms. C. Plyley via video conference
Parties Appearing:
Accused: Chase Benjamin Rienguette
Counsel: Mr. D. Northcott
Person in charge of Hospital: Representative: Mr. R. Holden Counsel Mr. P. Trenker
Attorney General of Ontario: Counsel: Ms. M. Mazurski
REASONS FOR DISPOSITION
(Dated March 2, 2026)
Introduction:
On February 12, 2018, Chase Benjamin Rienguette was found unfit to stand trial on charges of assault, failure to comply with probation order (x3), failure to comply with condition of judicial release (x2), contrary to the Criminal Code. At his last annual review in April 2025, Mr. Rienguette was ordered to be transferred to the Forensic Programs of the North Bay Regional Health Centre – North Bay Site (“the Hospital”), with discretionary privileges up to and including the ability to enter the community within the catchment area of the Hospital, accompanied by staff or by a person approved by the Person in Charge.
On January 14, 2026, the Board convened a hearing pursuant to s.672.48(1) and 672.81(1) of the Criminal Code, to determine whether Mr. Rienguette remains unfit to stand trial and, if so, whether he continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and the necessary and appropriate disposition. Mr. Rienguette and his counsel, Mr. Northcott, were present at the hearing.
Mr. Trenker, on behalf of the hospital, submitted that Mr. Rienguette remains unfit to stand trial and continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. He further submitted that the necessary and appropriate disposition is the continuation of the current detention order with the same terms and conditions. Ms. Mazurski, on behalf of the Ministry of the Attorney General, and Mr. Northcott, concurred in the hospital’s positions. Thus, a joint position was put before the panel.
Findings:
- For the reasons that follow, the panel finds that Mr. Rienguette remains unfit to stand trial and continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public. The panel agrees with the joint recommendation that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order.
Index Offence(s):
- The circumstances of the index offence are taken from the Hospital Report as follows:
“Description of Index Offence: The following has been excerpted from the Arrest Report and Crown Brief Synopsis provided to this facility by the Ontario Provincial Police:
Assault and Breach Probation
On 08 February 2017, Chase Rienguette was convicted in the City of Greater Sudbury Provincial Court by the Justice of the Ontario Court, A. Buttazzoni, for the offence of weapon-possession for dangerous purpose (s. 88 C.C). As a result of his conviction, Chase Rienguette [sic] was placed on probation for a period of 12 months. This Probation order has a start date effective immediately (08 Feb 2017), and an end date of 07 Feb 2018. One of the conditions of the probation order is “keep the peace and be of good behaviour.”
During the early morning hours of 20 September 2017, Chase Rienguette was in an agitated state, suffering from an episode of his diagnosed mental illness. His common-law spouse, Kayla Richer approached him and requested that he go to bed and get some rest. Richer later returned to speak with Rienguette and tried to get him to take his prescribed medication for the mental illness, and Rienguette refused. Richer then requested that Rienguette leave the residence and he became enraged with anger. Without other provocation, Rienguette began striking Richer in the face with his fists, even after she had fallen to the ground. Rienguette ultimately stopped the attack and left the residence.
As a result of Chase Rienguette intentionally and directly applying force to Kayla Richer without consent, he has been charged accordingly.
Breach Probation (2 charges) Breach Recognizance (2 charges)
On October 24th, 2017, at 19:45hrs, Sgt. M. Warth and P/c M. Dufresne attended 9283 Hwy 535 in follow up to locating Chase Rienguette. It was believed at that time that Rienguette [sic] would attend that location to feed his dog as he believed his ex-spouse, Kayla Richer who currently lived at that residence had died. Rienguette was currently in breach of his recognizance as his grandmother, Emma Lepage had revoked his surety on this date. He also had conditions to not communicate directly or indirectly with Kayla Richer or be at her place of residence. Another condition Rienguette was to abide by was to be with his surety at 36 Laren St. in Wahnapitae between the hours of 9pm, and 7am.
Once at the residence, Richer met with the above officers where she indicated she believed Rienguette was inside the residence as the lights were on in the house. Richer, the current home owner subsequently granted officers access to the house to make sure Rienguette was not inside. As officers approached the door, Rienguette was observed opening the door and asking why police were there. Officers explained to the male of what was going on where the male appeared confused and unaware of his conditions at this time. When Rienguette was advised to come with police, he subsequently closed the door where a large dog was also inside the residence. Richer subsequently provided a key for the residence where officers were able to enter the residence safely and remove the dog from the residence. At this time Rienguette had taken refuge inside the residence attic. Officers were eventually able to talk to Rienguette in coming out of the attic where he was arrested at 20:32hrs.
P/C M. Dufresne subsequently searched the male where he was provided with his RTC and Caution at 20:33hrs. Rienguette was later transported to the Sudbury OPP detachment where he was held for bail.
Rienguette was later transported to the Sudbury OPP detachment where he was held for bail.”
Background Information Regarding the Accused:
Mr. Rienguette is a 36 year old man who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at a young age. He experienced depression and anxiety as a child. He never wanted to go to school and would threaten to hurt himself. Mr. Rienguette completed high school and attended Cambrian College where he graduated as a Heavy Equipment Technician in 2012. He worked at a mining company until 2013 when he stopped due to ill health. Mr. Rienguette is supported by CPP Disability, and he has a large inheritance from his father’s estate with which he bought a home. Mr. Rienguette’s mother passed away on December 9, 2013, from an aneurysm and his father committed suicide in June 2016.
Mr. Rienguette previously had one long term partner, but they broke up after he became violent with her and his illness became too much for her to manage.
Mr. Rienguette has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. He has significant chronic pain related to injuries sustained during his brief time doing motocross events as an adolescent. Mr. Rienguette manages the pain with medical marijuana. He has used medical marijuana for years which has included varying levels of THC with no noted negative effects; however the doctors have queried drug induced psychosis.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Rienguette had been living with his maternal grandmother. Initially, she had signed as surety and he had been living with her however, due to the grandmother’s observations of his compromised mental state, she decided to remove the surety in the hope that Mr. Rienguette would get the help that he needed.
Current Psychiatric Diagnoses:
- Mr. Rienguette’s current psychiatric diagnoses consist of:
a) Schizophrenia
b) Cannibis Use Disorder, severe, in remission in a controlled setting
Evidence:
- Mr. Rienguette’s fitness is summarized in the Hospital Report dated November 28, 2025, as follows:
“Mr. Rienguette is cooperative when asked to participate in fitness questioning. He is able to report how the courts work; however, he believes he has “no current charges.” He endorses that he remains in hospital for his “medical health” and that he will be discharged between March 1st and 13th. When asked how he came to know this information, he stated that he received the information from the international Government and that he is “special OPS.” Throughout the assessment, he correctly described the judge, prosecutor, and Crown's roles, and he is aware that perjury is lying under oath. Despite being able to describe these concepts, he reiterated that this does not relate to him, again, relating this to being “special Ops.” He denied any homicidal ideation and goes as far to state he does “not ever even get angry.” With much teaching, he agreed to report any feelings of anxiety or anger to the nursing staff. He finished the conversation by stating “I need to be here to be safe. I am not always safe out there.” The treatment team opines that Mr. Rienguette does not meet the limited capacity required by the Taylor Standard for fitness to stand trial.”
At the beginning of the hearing Mr. Rienguette asked if he was in trouble while he was being introduced to the members of the ORB panel.
Mr. Trenker informed the Board that the Hospital’s evidence at the hearing consisted of the Hospital Report and that Dr. Le was available to be cross-examined.
In response to questions from Ms. Mazurski, Dr. Le stated that Mr. Rienguette’s transfer to the Hospital occurred about three months prior to the hearing. He had been placed in Deer Lodge, which is an assessment unit. Dr. Le agreed that the treatment team was still getting to know Mr. Rienguette. The doctor noted that Mr. Rienguette struggles with worries that people will harm him at the Hospital. He will often ask the doctor if she is going to kill him. Dr. Le has been able to reassure him that this is not the case and that he is safe and will not be harmed.
Mr. Northcott noted that Mr. Rienguette’s substitute decision maker is his sister, but he has no contact with her. The doctor agreed and informed the parties that Mr. Rienguette worried that his sister is actively trying to hire people to kill him. Mr. Rienguette is in contact with his grandmother and uncle and was hoping to have an in-person visit with them in the future.
The doctor stated that Mr. Rienguette’s transition from Waypoint to North Bay had gone well and he was settling in. Dr. Le noted that Mr. Rienguette was still getting messages that people were trying to harm him. He was taking his medications but still struggled to go out due to his concerns. The Hospital was working on getting him out more and trying to give him more privileges.
In the coming year, the Hospital would hope to continue building a trusting relationship with Mr. Rienguette; have him engage in programming including going for walks and working with a recreation therapist; and have some visits with his family. Dr. Le agreed with the Board that cognitive testing could assist the treatment team in planning for Mr. Rienguette and may provide additional sources of funding for him.
At the conclusion of the hearing Mr. Trenker commended Mr. Rienguette on his attendance at the hearing and stated that he had nothing to add to the evidence for the hearing. Ms. Mazurski thanked Mr. Rienguette for remaining at the duration of the hearing. Mr. Northcott stated that his client continued to join with the Hospital’s position.
Mr. Rienguette asked the Board to keep him safe. He also questioned why his sister was in charge of him when he has no contact with her. He informed the Board that, in the past, his sister had tried to kill him so that he would not suffer. He stated that he was not suffering but was just tearful at times. The Board suggested that the Hospital should look at whether the sister remained an appropriate SDM for Mr. Rienguette.
Analysis and Conclusion:
The panel has carefully considered the Hospital Report and the evidence of Dr. Le and finds that Mr. Rienguette remains unfit to stand trial. Because of his inability to appreciate the charges that he is facing; he would be unable to participate meaningfully in a trial or instruct counsel.
The panel also agrees that Mr. Rienguette continues to represent a significant threat to the safety of the public and relies on the Hospital Report including the following:
“Mr. Rienguette’s paranoia and ongoing delusional belief system have contributed significantly to his history of treatment non-compliance and failure to abide by the terms of various judicial orders when left to his own devices. Absent an appropriate level of supervision and support it is likely that Mr. Rienguette will return to the Sudbury area, resume the use of illicit substances and continue with the behaviours that led to the index offences. The index offences were unprovoked and aggressive, speaking to the propensity for violent and aggressive behaviour when unwell.“
The panel further agrees that the necessary and appropriate disposition is a continuation of the current detention order. Mr. Rienguette is well cared for in his current placement in Hospital. The staff are getting to know him and have the skills and expertise to care for him. The Board believes that cognitive testing might be helpful for the treatment team to assist in planning for Mr. Rienguette. The Board has confidence in the Hospital’s ability to manage this patient.
Accordingly, the panel finds that that the current detention order with the same terms and conditions is the necessary and appropriate disposition. In arriving at this conclusion, the panel has considered the paramount factor of the safety of the public, Mr. Rienguette’s community reintegration, his mental condition and his other needs as required by s.672.5 of the Criminal Code.
DATED this 2nd day of March 2026, at the City of Toronto, in the Toronto Region.
Ms. M. Chamberlain
Legal Member
__________________
Office of the Registrar
Ontario Review Board