THUNDER BAY – LEGAL UPDATE – Brandon Esquega, 24, appeared in court on December 12, 2025, before Justice Michael March and entered guilty pleas to multiple offences arising from a sequence of incidents in 2023 and 2024.
What Happened in Court?
Agreed Statement of Facts
According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, the matters include:
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October 28, 2023 (about 4:45 p.m.) — The court heard Esquega pushed his mother, Gloria Esquega, and punched her in the face.
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February 14, 2024 (about 7:00 p.m.) — The court heard he struck Aarianna Roberts, resulting in a nosebleed.
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June 14, 2024 — The court heard items were taken from Roberts’ wallet.
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June 25, 2024 (about 10:30 a.m.) — The court heard Thunder Bay Police Service officers recognized Esquega as wanted on two warrants, and that he ran and then resisted police after being located.
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June 26, 2024 — The court heard Esquega was released on bail.
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August 12, 2024 — The court heard he breached bail conditions by contacting Roberts and pushing her to the ground.
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September 9, 2024 (about 8:00 a.m.) — The court heard he threatened to kill Roberts while outside McKellar Park School.
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October 29, 2024 — The court heard Esquega was located by police at the Kingsway Hotel with Roberts.
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November 3, 2024 (about 9:45 p.m.) — The court heard he assaulted Roberts on the Fort William First Nation, and that her cell phone was damaged during the incident.
Sentence and Conditions
The court was presented with a joint submission seeking 10 months’ credit for time served, followed by 24 months of probation, along with a five-year weapons prohibition and a DNA order.
The court heard Esquega had served 217 days in custody. Justice March accepted a sentence of time served, and in delivering the decision emphasized that violence against women is unacceptable. Esquega was released from custody on December 12, 2025.
The Last Word: Thunder Bay court accepts joint submission; Brandon Esquega sentenced to time served and probation. We hope that Brandon gets back on the path he was on, and builds a healthier and productive life.
