Over two years in prison for Dow Settlement man

1. Over two years in prison for Dow Settlement man

Frederick Richard, 34, of Dow Settlement, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 13 and was sentenced to two years and eight months in federal prison after pleading guilty to several charges laid by RCMP.

Judge Sebastian Michaud also ordered Richard to register with the federal DNA database. The sentence prohibited him from the use of firearms.

The court heard the accused had a prior criminal record. Richard spent 32 days in custody following his arrest, which will be subtracted from his federal prison sentence.

Richard showed no emotion upon hearing his sentence. He pleaded guilty to breach of a release order by failing to comply with his house arrest on June 30, 2022, in Dow Settlement.

He also pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a firearm without a license for an incident on Dec. 17, 2021, at Beardsley Road.

The crown withdrew charges of unsafe firearm storage and possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles.

Richard also pleaded guilty to breach of an undertaking concerning a separate incident on May 10, 2021, at Beardsley Road and guilty to stealing mail between Feb. 1 and March 28, 2021.

The crown withdrew a charge of mischief. Richard was also fined $292 for driving while suspended.

Judge Michaud described Richard as a “low-level street trafficker” who was caught with a quantity of crystal meth and meth pills in his possession as well as firearms, drug paraphernalia, and $675 in cash. All items seized by the police were forfeited to the crown.

In deciding his sentence, Judge Michaud said Richard showed no remorse for his crimes. He noted that Richard had been generating income as a drug dealer since 2018 but had no previous drug convictions.

While mostly unemployed, Michard said Richard did odd jobs as a carpenter. The court also heard Richard’s girlfriend was recently killed in a motor vehicle accident.

2. Plaster Rock man facing three charges

Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 14 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP charged Sullivan with uttering threats, assault and assault by choking involving a female victim in connection with incidents between July 14 and Aug. 20 in Perth-Andover. He must report to the police weekly as part of his release.

3. Held for bail hearing on drug trafficking charges

Carolann Paul, 26, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Sept. 13 and was arrested on a warrant for failing to attend her trial on drug trafficking charges.

The court remanded Paul to jail for a bail hearing on Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m.

RCMP charged Paul with possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from a police bust on Sept. 23, 2020, at Neqotkuk. The court will set a new trial date when she returns to court for her bail hearing.

4. Arrested on a warrant

Marc Morin, 24, of Aroostook, appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 13 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court the day before. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m.

Morin failed to appear in provincial court on Sept. 12 for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. Police charged him with possession of a stolen snowmobile and obstructing a police officer in connection with an incident on March 6 in Carlingford. He was ordered to attend court and follow a curfew as part of his release order.

5. Released with conditions

Trevor Crain, 49, of Killoween, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 14 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m.

Police arrested Crain on a warrant on Sept. 12.

Crain appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 21 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions until his next court appearance on July 11 but failed to appear, and a warrant was issued.

RCMP charged Crain with breaking and entering a dwelling house, breaching an undertaking on June 15 at Moose Mountain, and committing an assault involving a female victim on June 11 at Killoween.

He was ordered to follow a curfew and report to the police weekly as part of his release order. He must also have no contact with the complainant.

6. Sentencing set for Hartland man

Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 35, of Hartland, will appear in provincial court for sentencing on Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police.

Stockford attended court in custody on Sept. 14 and pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching a release order and committing mischief by damaging an ankle bracelet for an incident on March 28 at Hartland.

Stockford also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property (a motorcycle) for an incident on Oct. 12, 2022, in Woodstock and guilty to theft, stemming from a separate incident on July 4, 2022, at the Atlantic Superstore in Woodstock.

Stockford was scheduled to appear in provincial court for plea in November but failed to appear after being arrested on other charges in Fredericton and Saint John. He has been in custody since April. The court heard other charges are being transferred from both jurisdictions for his sentencing hearing on Oct. 24.

7. 90 days concurrent added to prison term

An Ontario man appeared in court in custody by video from federal prison on Sept. 14 for sentencing on two charges laid by RCMP.

Quincy Gosse, 45, of no fixed address, was charged with assaulting a female victim and breach of a no-contact order from an incident on May 20, 2022, in Juniper. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 90 days concurrent to time he is already serving.

The court heard Gosse went to a woman’s residence on the day of the incident while in breach of an order to stay away. He called her names and slapped her four times in the face.

Gosse was sentenced in March to four and a half years in federal prison, minus time served, for attacking the same woman with a knife in Juniper last summer. The court heard he plans to return to Ontario after his release.

8. Thomas and McLean to stand trial together

Connell Ross McLean, 27, and Issak Tedford Thomas, 27, of Centreville, remain in custody to await their trial related to a series of incidents, including a police chase and shots fired.

McLean appeared in court in custody on Sept. 13 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. Thomas entered his not-guilty plea on all counts at a court appearance on Aug. 30.

Both men will return to court in custody for their trial on Jan. 18-19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. The court set a pre-trial conference for Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m.

The RCMP charged McLean and Thomas with discharge of a firearm (a rifle) with intent, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, obstructing police, and possession of stolen property (a side-by-side).

Thomas was also charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited and breach of probation. McLean faces additional charges of possession of a firearm while prohibited, flight from police, driving while suspended, breach of probation, and assaulting a police officer with a weapon (the side-by-side).

Police arrested the two men following a collision between an off-road vehicle and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton, south of Harland, on July 17. The arrests were related to a Monday morning incident in Speerville, south of Woodstock, which included shots fired at a Speerville resident.

The suspects fled Speerville, leading to an hours-long police search and investigation in several communities, including Lakeville and Lower Brighton.

9. Trial set for Woodstock man

Christopher James Kitchen, 44, of Beardsley Road, will appear for trial in provincial court on April 18, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a charge of criminal harassment.

Woodstock Police charged kitchen following an incident on March 13 in Woodstock. The charge involves allegations of repeated communication with a female complainant.

Kitchen entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 13. He was released on an undertaking.

10. In custody on multiple charges

Brandon Jeffrey Cote, 28, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 13. He pleaded guilty to one set of charges and a sentencing date was set for Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. The remaining charges were set over for trial on Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m.

Cote appeared in court in custody on Aug. 30 and waived his bail. Woodstock Police charged him with assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon, and breach of probation for a recent incident in Woodstock.

RCMP also charged him with uttering threats on Aug. 18 in Woodstock and breach of an undertaking by failing to report to police between Oct. 3, 2022, and Aug. 28, 2023, in Woodstock. Cote also faces charges of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and possession of a firearm without a licence.

11. Plea adjourned for Woodstock man

Jonathon Perry Bustard, 44, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 14 to face three charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Sept. 26 at 11:15 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.

Bustard was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, indictable assault against another man, and breach of a peace bond concerning an incident on July 19 at a residence in Woodstock. He waived his bail at a court appearance on July 27.

12. Agreed to peace bond

Clifford Joseph Lozier, 61, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Sept. 14 after pleading not guilty to a threat charge laid by Woodstock Police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial did not proceed.

Lozier was charged with uttering threats to cause bodily harm to a female victim in connection with an incident between Nov. 3 and Nov. 7, 2022, in Woodstock. As a result of the peace bond, the charge will be withdrawn.

13. Sentencing set for Nackawic man

Allen Edward Wong, 57, of Nackawic, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on one charge laid by RCMP.

Wong was charged with impaired driving and failing to stop for police in connection with an incident near Woodstock on Sept. 5, 2021. He pleaded guilty to the impaired driving charge at a court appearance on Sept. 8. The crown will redraw the remaining charge of failing to stop for police at sentencing.

14. Decision delayed after trial on sex charge

Matthew White, 41, of Upper Woodstock, will return to provincial court on Sept. 15 at 9:30 a.m. for a verdict following the conclusion of his trial on July 17. The decision, slated for Aug. 28, was adjourned to the new date.

RCMP charged White with invitation to touching for a sexual purpose, involving a female minor in connection with an incident on July 22, 2022, at Woodstock. White was released on an undertaking to have no contact with the complainant.

After a day and a half of testimony, Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision. White testified in his own defence during the trial.

15. Sentencing set on eight charges

Emily McSheffrey, 27, of Waterville, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 14 and changed her plea to guilty on eight charges laid by RCMP. A sentencing date was set for Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

McSheffrey appeared in provincial court for sentencing in July on five charges and told the court she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea on one of them.

On Sept. 14, she abandoned her application for a hearing and then entered guilty pleas on all charges laid against her. The crown informed the court that it would seek a period of incarceration for the accused.

McSheffrey told Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean she was planning to enter detox and undergo drug rehabilitation for alcohol and meth addiction in advance of her sentencing in December.

McSheffrey pleaded guilty to refusing a breathalyzer on Aug. 29, 2020, in Jacksonville; guilty to assaulting a police officer by biting him on the hand, resisting arrest, and fraudulent impersonation to avoid arrest on April 8, 2021, in Perth-Andover; guilty to mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and assault with a weapon (a rock) involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Nov. 13, 2021, in Wicklow; guilty to uttering threats and assaulting a police officer on July 6, 2022, in Waterville; guilty to possession of a stolen side-by-side on Nov. 8, 2022, in Bath; guilty to assaulting a male complainant on Feb. 21 in Wicklow by punching and kicking him; guilty to uttering threats in a text message and breach of an undertaking on April 3 in Wicklow; and guilty to breach of an undertaking on July 7 at Woodstock First Nation.

RCMP also charged her with uttering threats involving a male complainant for an incident on May 12 at Florenceville-Bristol. She agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and that charge did not proceed.

16. Remanded for bail hearing

Steven Frank Powers, 60, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 14 for a bail hearing,  which was adjourned until Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.

Powers was charged by RCMP with breach of probation and taken into custody for a recent incident in Plaster Rock.

In August, he was sentenced to 45 days in jail or time served and released from custody after spending 117 days in remand. He was sentenced after pleading guilty to charges related to an incident in Plaster Rock in April.

17. Trial set for assault charge

Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Woodstock First Nation, will appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 14 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.

The court set a monitoring date for Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m.

RCMP charged Nowlan with assault on a minor in connection with an incident between April 1 and April 30 in Coldstream. He made his first court appearance on Sept. 12 and pleaded not guilty.

18. January trial for Wilmot man

Trevor Eldon York, 31, of Wilmot, will appear for trial in provincial court on Jan. 10, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP.

York was charged with impaired driving and flight from police following an incident on May 13 near Centreville. He was taken into custody and released with conditions. A monitoring date was set for Sept. 12. The court heard York is currently working out west but will return for his trial in January.

19. Trial set on five charges

Daniel Hamilton, 56, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 12 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. His two-day trial was set for July 18-19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.

Hamilton was charged with flight from police and driving while suspended for an incident on July 2, 2021, near Hartland. He was also charged with dangerous driving, flight from police, and possession of stolen property concerning another incident on April 3. Hamilton entered his not-guilty pleas at a court appearance on Sept. 12.

20. Charged with impaired driving

Shannon Kelley, 63, of Hillandale, near Saint John, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 28, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to impaired driving.

RCMP charged Kelley in connection with an incident on May 12 near Perth-Andover. He made his first court appearance on Sept. 12.