Lac Rapide Chief Jean-Maurice Matchewan has been found guilty of assault charges at the Maniwaki court house.
Chief Matchewan was accused of assault after a dispute at a New Year’s party in a Lac Rapide home. One woman, Viana Maranda, had to be hospitalized for almost two weeks after the dispute. Another woman, Louise Pian, who lived in the home where the incident occurred, suffered minor injuries.
Chief Matchewan will be sentenced on Oct. 27. The incident has prompted a group of dissidents in the community to demand the Chiefs resignation.
“There is no question we would make him Chief another time,” said one of the dissidents, Joe Wawati, in a Canadian Press report.
“There is no way we should have a Chief who is a woman-beater.”
