Holmesville man guilty of manslaughter
Joshua Raines, 49, of Holmesville, pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he appeared in provincial court in custody in Fredericton on June 20.
Raines was initially charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Lucas Richard Solomon Polchies in the early morning hours of March 12, 2023, in Lincoln near Fredericton.
On Friday, Raines was released from custody under house arrest until his sentencing in Fredericton on Dec. 2. He had spent a lengthy time in remand. The crown plans to recommend four and a half years in prison on the manslaughter charge.
Raines also has other charges in Woodstock, which he requested be transferred to Fredericton. RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, breach of a release order, driving while suspended, and careless driving following an accident on April 20 at Florenceville-Bristol. He told the court he intended to plead guilty to three of the charges.
He pleaded not guilty to driving while suspended and returns to court in Woodstock on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
On April 24, Raines appeared in provincial court in Woodstock in custody via teleconference and spoke to the judge from his hospital bed. The court heard he was involved in a serious accident and had other charges pending in Fredericton. He was released from custody in Fredericton in March on strict conditions.
Three plead guilty in Neqotkuk kidnapping
Sheena Sappier, 36, Keagan Paul, 32, and Ashley Paul, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on June 23 and changed their plea to guilty for their role in a violent kidnapping in the community last April.
All three accused were released until their sentencing on Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Keagan Paul pleaded guilty to unlawful confinement, kidnapping with intent, and being an occupant of a vehicle, knowing it carried a firearm. He was the driver of a vehicle in which the victim was tied up and held in the trunk. He had no prior criminal record.
Sheena Sappier and Ashley Paul were each charged with kidnapping a female victim, unlawful confinement, attempting to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence, and theft of a motor vehicle. The court heard the victim’s car was stolen and burned during the commission of the offence.
Both women pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle and attempted to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence. The crown withdrew the remaining two charges.
Ashley Paul also pleaded guilty to other unrelated charges, including assaulting another woman while in custody at the Miramichi jail on May 30, 2024, and breaking into a dwelling house on March 21, 2025, at Craig’s Flats when two TVs and a laptop were stolen. The crown withdrew five other charges.
Three other men from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) are in custody, awaiting a federal prison sentence for their part in the kidnapping.
Jacob Perley, 34, Adam Perley, 33, and Preston Sockabasin, 27, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on June 19. The crown recommended six years in prison for Jacob Perley, three years for Adam Perley, and four years for Sockabasin. They pleaded guilty to multiple offences.
Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver told the court the men were among a group of seven individuals who acted like a gang in the kidnapping. Drugs fuelled their violent actions, he said, which were premeditated and motivated by financial gain because a bounty was offered for snaring the victim. Once caught, she was given 30 days to pay a debt, or she would die.
A 54-year-old Aroostook woman testified she was kidnapped, gagged, beaten, and tortured for two days at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) last April. She begged for her life during the last hours of her captivity and then crawled out of a body bag in the trunk of a car and ran for help. She said she lives with long-term physical injuries and deep emotional trauma caused by the experience.
Sockabasin and the two Perley men were jointly charged by RCMP with forcible confinement by choking and suffocation, unlawful confinement, administering a noxious substance, assault causing bodily harm, and extortion with violence to obtain $10,000 between April 27 and April 29, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
Jacob Perley was also charged with pointing a firearm at a female victim, using a gun to kidnap her, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, possessing a firearm without a licence, and obstructing a police officer. He and Adam Perley have been in custody since their arrest last year.
The crown withdrew three charges against Adam Perley. A charge of unlawful confinement was also withdrawn against Sockabasin.
Sockabasin also pleaded guilty to flight from police for a separate incident on May 7, 2024, at Neqotkuk and guilty to resisting arrest on April 8, 2025, at Neqotkuk. He was released with conditions after his arrest, but was taken back into custody for breaching his release order.
Judge Natalie LeBlanc adjourned the sentencing hearing for the three men until June 26 at 1:30 p.m. Weaver said he and Crown Prosecutor Samantha Goodine have further arguments to make, while defence lawyers Alex Carleton, Alex Pate and Dennis Sawyer will begin submissions for the three accused.
Troy Pelkey, 56, of Tilley, who allegedly orchestrated the crime, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, uttering threats, forcible confinement, extortion with violence to obtain $10,000, pointing a firearm at a female victim, and unauthorized possession of a gun between April 27 and April 29, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
His trial got underway on March 26 before Judge Anne M. Richard and continued on April 1-2. The trial was adjourned to May 8 and June 2. Other trial dates were also set for July 16 and Aug. 21-22. Pelkey remains in custody.
Sentencing adjourned to new date
Martin Sargefield, 32, of River de Chute, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 24 for sentencing on sex charges. His sentencing was adjourned until Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Sargefield with sexual assault and touching a female minor for a sexual purpose (indictable) between July 1, 2016, and July 22, 2022. He pleaded guilty and was remanded to jail on May 27 to await sentencing.
The court heard about a series of sexual acts involving the accused and the victim over a period of six years.
Crown Prosecutor Samantha Goodine told the court that Sargefield deserved eight years in federal prison for his crimes. She also requested that he be ordered to register with the federal DNA database and the national sex offender registry for 20 years.
A firearms and weapons prohibition was also recommended by the crown, as well as an order that Sargefield be banned from working, volunteering or attending places where children may be present. He had a minimal prior criminal record.
Goodine said the ongoing sexual abuse had a serious impact on the victim, creating a “very dark time” in her life. Sargefield “assaulted her in various sexual ways,” the crown lawyer stated.
Defence Counsel Wanda Severns argued a three-to-four-year prison sentence was suitable for the accused. His sentencing hearing will continue on Aug. 12.
Sentencing set on theft charges
Megan Grant, 44, of Perth-Andover, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Oct. 14 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to two theft charges.
On June 24, Grant pleaded guilty to theft of $245 from a coin dispenser at the Subway in Perth-Andover on March 10, 2023, and shoplifting $250 worth of groceries from Jeff’s Independent Grocer in Plaster Rock on Jan. 3. The court heard she left the grocery store with a full cart without paying the cashier.
Released to rehab facility
Takoda Louis Lee Christian, 19, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 23 for a decision on his bail.
Judge Scott Brittain released him under full house arrest to a rehab facility in Nova Scotia for addiction treatment. He returns to court via teleconference on July 8 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on several charges.
Christian appeared in court in custody on May 29 after being arrested for breaching his release order. He was released with conditions on May 1 with an ankle bracelet but was taken back into custody.
He was charged by Woodstock Police with breach of a release order (house arrest) on April 16 at Wotstak and breach of a no-contact order on April 14 in Woodstock.
He was also charged with assault and unlawful confinement between June 29, 2024, and July 4, 2024, at Wotstak; assault and two counts of assault by choking in Fredericton between Feb. 10 and Feb. 19; and mischief causing property damage to a cell phone between Feb. 10 and Feb. 19 at Wotstak.
He was also charged with assaulting another man with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and mischief causing property damage to a window in connection with an incident on April 8 in Lansdowne.
Christian also faces charges laid by Woodstock Police following an assault outside the Royal Canadian Legion on Nov. 14, 2024. Police were called to the scene, and a man was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Christian was charged with indictable aggravated assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
He also appeared in provincial court on April 15 and pleaded not guilty to another indictable assault charge laid by Woodstock Police. His trial was set for April 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Christian pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault concerning an incident on March 25 at the Ayr Motor Centre. Woodstock. Police said a 16-year-old victim suffered significant injuries in the incident and was transported to the Upper River Valley Hospital for treatment.
Arrested on a warrant
Caleb Crain, 40, of Piercemont, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 23 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on July 18 at 9:30 a.m. He was arrested on a warrant and spent the weekend in jail.
Woodstock Police charged Crain with carelessly transporting a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence (a semi-automatic rifle), and being an occupant of a vehicle, knowing it carried a gun, following an incident on June 19 in Woodstock.
The arrest warrant was issued when he failed to appear in provincial court on May 29 for a hearing about his request to withdraw his guilty plea on other matters.
Crain appeared for sentencing in provincial court on April 9 after changing his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was adjourned until after the hearing could be held.
Crain was charged with assault causing bodily harm to a female victim, unlawful confinement, and uttering threats following an incident on Dec. 10, 2022, near Florenceville-Bristol.
He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of common assault and guilty to uttering threats. The crown withdrew the confinement charge. The court heard the crown was seeking a three-month jail sentence for Crain.
Remanded for mental health assessment
Brandon Edward Cormier Sabattis, 31, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 24 for a fitness hearing following a five-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche Hospital.
Judge Karen Lee ordered him to remain at the hospital for a further five-day assessment. He returns to court on July 2 at 1:30 p.m. for another fitness hearing.
Sabattis pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm and is awaiting sentencing on the charge. The court heard he was remanded on other charges in Fredericton and was recently placed under the purview of the provincial Mental Health Review Board.
Agreed to peace bond
Jace Maddox Anderson, 20, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 23 for trial on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial did not proceed.
Anderson was charged with uttering threats and breach of a no-contact order following an incident on July 1, 2024, in Woodstock; assault and uttering threats at a Woodstock apartment on May 25, 2023. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
Released from custody
Carly Rae Muzzerolle, 30, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 23 for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on July 15 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Muzzerrolle with fleeing the police. She will also appear for trial in provincial court on Feb. 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a stolen property charge laid by RCMP. She pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on March 4.
Plea date adjourned
Logan Estey, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 23 for plea on a breach charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until July 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Estey appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 5 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions (ankle bracelet). He was charged with breaching a release order (no contact) for an incident on June 1 in Woodstock.
At an earlier court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to other separate matters and three trial dates were set for Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. and March 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Estey was charged by RCMP with assault, assault with a weapon (a car), and dangerous driving following an incident on July 24, 2024, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident in Woodstock on Aug. 3, 2024. He was ordered to have no further contact with the complainant. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8, 2024, and was released with conditions.
He was also charged with mischief, causing property damage to a window, and possessing a firearm to commit an offence concerning an incident on Jan. 1, 2024, in Upper Woodstock. The court heard Estey was also facing more charges in Fredericton.
Bail hearing rescheduled
William (Billy) Harding, 35, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 23 for a fitness hearing following a five-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. He was found fit to stand trial in accordance with his medical report.
Harding returns to court in custody by video on June 26 at 9:30 a.m. for a bail hearing. RCMP charged him with breaking into a dwelling house, causing mischief to his ankle bracelet, and three counts of breaching his release order on June 7 in Perth-Andover.
He was also charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a male victim and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace following an incident on May 11 at Perth Andover.
Harding appeared in provincial court on April 22 to answer theft charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. Those matters were adjourned for plea until June 10, but he failed to appear, and a warrant was issued.
Harding was charged by Woodstock Police with theft from the Superstore and breach of probation following an incident on Sept. 10, 2024, in Woodstock.
A co-accused, Tammy Schloemer, 60, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was charged in relation to the same incident at the Superstore. She appeared in court in custody on June 23 after being arrested on a warrant. Schloemer pleaded not guilty to theft and was released with conditions until her trial on July 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Harding was also charged with theft of a laptop in Perth-Andover on March 12, 2024; breach of probation on March 20, 2024; and breach of probation by failing to report between Dec. 12, 2023, and Sept. 3, 2024. He has a prior criminal record.
Awaiting trial date
Timothy Brian Wheelan, 37, of Jacksonville, will appear in provincial court on July 15 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial on threat charges.
RCMP charged Wheelan with uttering threats in connection with an incident on March 17 in Jacksonville. He pleaded not guilty on June 24.
Theft of copper wire
Dana MacLean, 59, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on June 24 for monitoring about his trial.
MacLean will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to theft and mischief charges laid by the RCMP. He told the court he still did not have legal counsel. Another monitoring date was set for July 22 at 9:30 a.m.
He was charged with committing mischief causing property damage, and indictable theft of copper wire in connection with an incident on July 24, 2024, near Plymouth Road.
Awaiting sentence
Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 23 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was adjourned until Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m., and he was released from custody until that time.
Sullivan pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Nov. 23, 2024, at Plaster Rock and Gladwyn. He has a prior criminal record.
Sullivan appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 20 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was later arrested on a theft charge in Fredericton and denied bail.
In Woodstock, Sullivan was charged by RCMP with breach of a release order (no-contact) and breach of probation, stemming from an incident on March 14 at Gladwyn.
He was also charged with breaching his release order and breach of probation concerning an incident on Feb. 20 in Waterville and theft from the Twin Rivers Paper Company in Plaster Rock on Jan. 12.
