MEADOW LAKE — A trial scheduled May 21 for 26-year-old Christopher Ernest didn’t proceed because of a legal aid conflict. A new trial will be scheduled for him at a later date.
Ernest was wanted by Meadow Lake RCMP for a shooting on Waterhen Lake First Nation in June 2025. Police responded to a report of an altercation between a group of individuals during which shots were fired. One man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The following month, Ernest was arrested in Sherwood Park, Alta., on separate firearm-related offences. He remained in custody in Alberta while facing several other charges in Sherwood Park and Calgary, some dating back to 2023.
On Oct. 29, 2025, an Alberta court withdrew five charges against him. Ernest pleaded guilty to five others and he was given a global jail sentence of 195 days, minus 175 days credit for time served while on remand.
With his Alberta charges resolved, Ernest was brought back to Saskatchewan to face charges related to the June shooting on Waterhen Lake First Nation, as well as being unlawfully at large, and failing to appear in court.
He was released on bail in March.
