A Walpole Island man charged with second-degree murder in connection with a New Year's Day shooting has been granted bail set at $270,000, a decision that has stirred significant controversy and led to the arrest of the deceased man's father within the courthouse, according to court records.
Details of the Case
Cody Roegiest, 32, of Walpole Island, faces charges of second-degree murder, discharging a firearm with intent, and possession of a firearm—specifically a long gun—without a license. The charges stem from an alleged incident on January 1 on the First Nation, located near Sarnia and Chatham, Ontario. The victim has been identified as Alexander Everette Justin Johnson, known as “Boone” according to his obituary.
Bail Hearing and Release
After nearly four months in custody, Roegiest was released on April 28 following a two-day bail hearing. Superior Court Justice Kelly Gorman granted bail with a $270,000 bond secured by five sureties. Much of the hearing, including evidence and arguments, remains under a publication ban until the trial concludes or Roegiest is discharged.
The decision drew a large crowd at the Sarnia courthouse over both days. Several attendees expressed disappointment and anger regarding the outcome.
Courthouse Incident
On the second day of the hearing, tensions escalated during a break in the second-floor lobby, leading to an arrest by courthouse security. Leonard Pinnance, a Walpole Island resident and father of Boone Johnson, was charged with assaulting two individuals—both of whom were sureties for Roegiest—and harassing one of them. Pinnance was held overnight on April 28 and released the following day on $250 bail, with conditions prohibiting contact with the two victims. He is scheduled to reappear in court on June 11.
Bail Conditions for Roegiest
As part of his release, Roegiest must reside with his sureties in Wallaceburg at all times, except when accompanied by a surety, attending court, or working if employed. He is subject to an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. Additionally, he is prohibited from contacting or approaching within 100 meters of Pinnance and nine other individuals, cannot leave Ontario, and must not possess any weapons.
His case was briefly adjourned on Tuesday for a hearing involving his lawyer and the Crown, and is now scheduled to return to court on June 2.
Background of the Incident
Details of the New Year's Day event on Walpole Island remain scarce. Lambton Ontario Provincial Police issued a release late that day, reporting a disturbance involving a firearm on Squirrel Island Road around 8 a.m. A 29-year-old Walpole Island resident sustained apparent gunshot wounds and died at the scene. One person was arrested, but at the time, police did not identify the accused or the deceased, describing it as a death investigation. The murder charge was never publicly announced.
This marks the first homicide investigation in Lambton County in 2026, occurring just over a month after a woman died and her neighbors were injured during a November 29 altercation in a small retirement community in Lambton Shores.
