Case adjourned a fourth time, ‘reasonable chance’ to avoid trial
A 19-year-old Woodstock man charged with child luring has had his case adjourned again.
Jason Kuhndel, a former Royal Canadian Army Cadet and civilian volunteer, is charged with child luring and making sexually explicit material available to a minor with the intent to create child pornography. The charges were initially filed on Nov. 7, 2023.
In Fredericton Provincial Court on Feb. 6, 2024, Kuhndel was represented by his lawyer, Patrick Hurley. Hurley requested that the case be set aside for several weeks because he believed there was a “reasonable chance” to settle the matter without a trial.
Previously, Hurley had requested an adjournment on Kuhndel’s behalf while waiting to review crown disclosure documents on Dec. 6, 2023, and Dec. 27, 2023. On Jan. 18, 2024, Hurley again asked that the case be adjourned while they work on a resolution with the prosecution. This is the fourth adjournment for Kuhndel’s case.
Kuhndel was still working with Woodstock’s #318 Cadet Corp weeks after the initial charges were filed.
On Dec. 18, 2023, the River Valley Sun reached out to Alicea Richards, the Commanding Officer for the Woodstock Cadets. Richards offered no comment but referred the matter to the Regional Cadet Support Unit instead.
Jordan Elliot, Public Affairs Officer of the Unit, said, “he (Kuhndel) was removed from his duties as soon as we were notified.” Elliot also added they were made aware of the situation by Richards that same day.
Major Victor Belleville, Commanding Officer for the New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island cadets said that “it is the individual’s responsibility to notify their chain of command of any criminal charges laid against them.”
Belleville also stated “the delay in unit staff and headquarters being notified is concerning,” and that they’ll be addressing the delays with the cadet corp, squadron staff and volunteers to prevent this issue in the future.
Kuhndel is expected back in Fredericton court on Feb. 26, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
