FIRST CROWN WITNESSES TALK ABOUT DRUG SCENE

COBOURG - A story of armed "pot pirates" and a large marijuana
business was relayed by the first witness in the double-murder trial
of James Earle Boudreau.

John Dudley, 31, took the stand in Cobourg's Superior Court the
morning of Wednesday, April 30, to explain his role as a "clipper" in
cleaning stolen marijuana plants in a locked room at a safe house
along Telephone Road in Cramahe Township. He said he was paid one
ounce of marijuana bud for every pound of the plant he cleaned. He
worked three or four days for James Pearce, James Boudreau and Goober
Smith, the days before the disappearance of Mr. Pearce on Oct. 5,
1999. Mr. Smith's body was found north of Castleton in October 2000.

Mr. Boudreau is now facing two first-degree murder charges for both
Mr. Pearce and Mr. Smith.

Mr. Dudley explained while he was working for the three men, a large
quantity of marijuana - described as "the motherload" - was stolen
from the residence. He said the accused was very irate about the
theft, and that the three or four clippers who worked at the safe
house were brought there and questioned, but all had alibis.

"We were all dumbfounded." Mr. Dudley said.

The mood in the house was frantic and angry, he added, and that
included the accused. A double-barreled shotgun, handguns and an Uzi
were stolen along with the marijuana. Mr. Pearce was not in the safe
house at the time, said Mr. Dudley.

The witness said there was a conclusion made that because Mr. Pearce
was not there, he was responsible for the theft. He also told Crown
Attorney Brad Kelneck that he once took a marijuana bud home and was
found out. As Mr. Boudreau drove him home that night, he tapped on a
gun on the seat between them and told him "not to f--k around."

Defense Counsel Gary McNeely asked Mr. Dudley if the guns could have
belonged to anyone in the house. He said yes. Mr. Dudley told the
defense he knew the drugs were stolen using violence and said he was
just there to make some easy money, along with other people. The
witness crossed his fingers and said Boudreau and Pearce "were like this."

Mr. Dudley said Mr. Pearce was the leader until he disappeared, and
then Mr. Boudreau took his place.

"Like an alpha male in a group of friggin' wolves."

The owner of the safe house, Steven Bolduc, 41, the second witness in
the case, testified he rented a room for $500/month to Gordon
(Goober) Smith in the summer of 1999, so that he could store some
things. The room was one of the few in the house that locked. He said
as he was a truck driver, he was away most of the time, and did not
know what was stored in the room until he searched it one day,
looking for some medication, and discovered the marijuana.

Mr. Bolduc told Mr. McNeely he did not know there were guns in the house.

Legal secretary Heather Bonsell said she spoke to Mr. Pearce on Oct.
5, 1999, regarding the sale of a property. She said he seemed a
little upset about some issues with the sale, but gave no indication
he would not be available at a later time.

Former exotic dancer Amanda Settee, 32, was the final witness on the
stand on Wednesday. The woman met Mr. Pearce while he was working in
Thunder Bay in September 1999, when they began a relationship.
Maintaining contact, Mr. Pearce, accompanied by Mr. Boudreau, visited
Ms. Settee in Fort Erie and offered her a job as a clipper for
$20/hour. She agreed and the three arrived back in Cobourg on Oct. 4, 1999.

Ms. Settee said when she saw the guns, army fatigues and balaclavas,
she became scared and decided to leave. She testified there was some
discussion about drugs being stolen. The morning of Oct. 5, Mr.
Pearce called her and told her he had purchased a train ticket for
her. Another man gave her a ride to the Cobourg Via Station, and she
eventually boarded the train without seeing Mr. Pearce or his
familiar pink truck.

Mr. McNeely grilled Ms. Settee on her relationship with Mr. Pearce
and her knowledge of the stolen drugs, the violence and the fact that
bikers were involved in the operation.

The trial continues Thursday. Check northumberlandnews.com for
nightly updates and see more in Friday's paper.