Richard Valiquette pleads not guilty of criminal negligence causing death of teen

A Saint John man has pleaded not guilty to criminal negligence causingdeath in connection with the drug-related death of ateenager nearly three years ago.

Richard Valiquette, 28, who is accused of giving Gavin Adams a substance not intended for human consumption and in reckless disregard for his safety,entered the plea in Saint John's Court of Queen's Bench on Monday morning.

He pleaded guilty to producing N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), ahallucinogenic drug.

Theother two charges against him drug trafficking and possession of a drug for the purposes of traffickingwere dropped.

Valiquette was previously charged with manslaughter in the death of 17-year-oldAdams, but that charge was withdrawn by consent in July 2015.

• Manslaughter plea in death of Saint John teen Gavin Adams delayed

The body of Adams, aSaint John High School student, was found by a search and rescue crewon Dec. 16, 2013, in a parking lot in the city'snorth end, after a two-day search.

Valiquette was charged on Nov. 25, 2014, but has not been in custody.

His trial began on Monday with testimony from Adams' parents David and Sonja Adams, who are both members of the Saint John String Quartet.

The trial resumes on Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m. Justice Frederick Ferguson is presiding.

Criminal negligence causingdeath carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The court also heard details Monday about the drug production charge. Policeexecuteda search warrant at his home on Dec. 16, 2013 and found four cylinders of product, later identified as DMT.

Valiquettewas selling doses of between 10 and 15 milligrams, according to the Crown.

The drug production charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a mandatory 10-year firearms prohibition.

A date for his sentencing on that charge is scheduled to set on Oct. 24. A pre-sentence report is expected to be ordered.