Jocelyn Mallet, accused of crashing SUV into church, denied bail

Jocelyn Mallet, who is facing a charge of mischief over $5,000 after allegedly driving an SUV through the main doors of a Shippagan church last month, has been denied bail.

Mallet, 26, remains remanded in custody, following a bail hearing in Caraquet provincial court on Monday.

Judge Yvette Finn imposed a publication ban on the proceedings.

Mallet is scheduled to return to court on May 11 to set a trial date.

He was previously ordered to undergo a 30-day psychiatric evaluation.

St Jérôme's Catholic Church sustained more than $1 million in estimated damages during the April 1 incident. The insurance deductible is about $25,000.

Damage was done to the front doors and about 25 pews. The organ, a Guilbault-Thérien, worth close to $500,000, also sustained significant damage.

St. Jérôme's parishioners had Easter mass in nearby LeGoulet since their church was unusable.