Chief Morley Googoo sent to restorative justice on assault charge

Morley Googoo, a regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations, appeared in provincial court Tuesdayin Sydney, N.S., and has been referred to the province's restorative justice program.

Googoo was charged with assault and causing a disturbanceafter an alleged fight in June at the Hampton Inn in Membertou, near Sydney.

On Tuesday, Judge Ann Marie MacInnes accepted the Crown's recommendation that Googoobe referred to restorative justice.

Googoowas re-elected to the Assembly of First Nations earlier this year, and is the lead organizer of Grand-Pr2017,a four-day Canada 150 celebration beginning this week in Grand Pr in the Annapolis Valley.

Restorative justice often involves offender and victim meeting face-to-face, and can include family members and people from the community.

If Googoosuccessfully completes the program, the charges against him will likely be dropped. The court is scheduled to hear an update on his progress on Oct. 30.