Roger Van Every, a 40-year-old Brantford man with a long criminal history, was re-arrested just six days after being released from jail earlier this month.
Van Every, known in the community as the target of a 2019 murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the tragic deaths of his parents, was released on April 3 after pleading guilty to an assault charge. At the time, he told the court he was ready to “move forward” with his life.
But on April 9, Van Every was arrested again after Brantford Police stopped a vehicle on Brock Street, discovering drugs, multiple phones, and a set of brass knuckles. He and two other men in the car were charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. Van Every also faces an additional charge for possession of Dilaudid.
He is now back in custody and recently appeared in court in an attempt to secure bail. His lawyer from the earlier assault case noted that Van Every struggled to find a suitable surety after his previous arrest.
Assault Plea and Probation Terms
Van Every’s release on April 3 came after a judge accepted a joint submission for time served—12 days, enhanced to 18 days—for a Dec. 14, 2024 assault. He and a friend had forcibly removed a man from a garage at the request of the leaseholder.
Though Justice Colette Good agreed to the sentence, she warned Van Every that his criminal record meant even minor offenses could lead to jail time.
“You’ve been convicted of some really serious crimes and spent a lot of time in custody in the past,” she said.
In addition to time served, Van Every was placed on 18 months of probation, but was excused from having to regularly report to a probation officer. His lawyer, Lon Rose, argued that such reporting could make him a visible target due to his past.
“He’s not thrilled about being on probation, but it’s not because he’s worried about his behaviour,” said Rose, adding that Van Every hoped to leave the area and begin working again.
Several other charges related to the 2024 incident, including pointing a firearm and assault with a weapon, were withdrawn after the victim declined to participate in court proceedings or submit a victim impact statement.
Troubled Past
Van Every has been entangled in Brantford’s criminal underworld for years. In July 2019, while under house arrest for drug charges at his parents’ Park Road South home, a group of men targeted the property. One man, Malik Mbuyi, fatally shot Van Every’s parents, Larry Reynolds and Lynn Van Every, after failing to find Roger.
Van Every testified during the 2023 trial of Salloum Jassem, who was accused of ordering the hit. He detailed his involvement in Brantford’s drug trade and how he continued dealing during house arrest. He also recounted watching his parents die.
In February 2020, Van Every and Shajjad Idrish were involved in a shooting at the Galaxy Motel that left one man dead, another injured, and a third paralyzed. Both men were charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder before fleeing. Van Every was captured in Northern Ontario; Idrish was later found in London.
At Idrish’s trial, it was established that both men pulled guns, but only Idrish’s fired. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years, also receiving time for a separate Hamilton homicide.
Van Every later pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in the Galaxy Motel shooting and was sentenced in July 2023 to time served after over four years in custody.
Despite repeated courtroom statements about his desire to “rebuild” his life, family members say Van Every has made little effort to reconnect, and most relatives would not welcome his return.
