Arthurette man in custody on sex charges
Johnny Bloodsworth, 39, of Arthurette, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17 on sex charges laid by RCMP. His bail hearing was adjourned, and he was remanded until his next court appearance on June 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Bloodsworth was charged with sexual assault, two counts of touching a minor for a sexual purpose, and uttering threats in connection with an incident between April 1, 2023 and Sept. 1, 2023, at Arthurette.
Bloodsworth also faces firearm charges for a separate incident on June 14 at Arthurette, including possession of multiple shotguns and rifles without a licence, possession of a prohibited firearm with ready ammunition, and possession of several restricted firearms without a licence. No plea has yet been entered to any of the charges.
Perth-Andover woman sentenced to house arrest
Faith York, 24, of Perth-Andover, received a six-month conditional sentence of house arrest when she appeared for sentencing in provincial court on June 18 on a forgery charge. She was also placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to follow a curfew and seek mental health counselling.
RCMP charged York with uttering forged documents (cheques) and defrauding a bank of $5,747 in connection with incidents at Neqotkuk between June 13, 2022, and July 4, 2022.
York pleaded guilty to uttering forged documents, and the crown withdrew the fraud charge. She had a limited prior criminal record.
The court heard York played a small part in an elaborate scheme on the First Nation to defraud the band office. She digitally altered a cheque and deposited the funds electronically into her account during 20 transactions using her phone. The amounts were drawn on the band’s social services account. Several other individuals in the community were also involved in the same type of activity. The band office was compensated for the financial loss by the bank.
Suspended sentence, probation for assault
Justin Frenette, 41, of Florenceville-Bristol, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court on June 18. He was also ordered to seek counselling for anger management.
Frenette was charged with assault while threatening to use a weapon (boiling water) and assault with a weapon (a lit cigarette) for incidents on Sept. 6, 2023, and Oct. 10, 2023, in Glassville. He pleaded guilty to assault involving a female victim, and the crown withdrew the two remaining charges.
The court heard both incidents involved a domestic dispute, and Frenette was struggling with health issues at the time. He had no prior criminal record. Frenette was ordered to have no contact with the victim and must not have any firearms in his possession for five years.
Sentencing set on drug charge
Bronwyn Barbara Thomas, 23, of Bloomfield, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 17 and changed her plea to guilty on a drug charge. Her sentencing date was set for Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Thomas with attempting to possess methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2, 2022, near Centreville.
Released with conditions
Braxton Denny, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He returns to court for plea on July 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Denny was arrested on June 12. Woodstock Police charged him with breaching a release order by failing to abstain from drugs between June 6 and June 7 in Woodstock.
He also appeared in provincial court on Jan. 16 to answer other charges for different alleged events. He pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Denny was charged with possession of stolen property on July 23, 2023, flight from police on July 22, 2023, and two counts of failing to appear in court on Oct. 17 and 24, 2023. A trial date was set for Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Denny appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing in December and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was arrested on a warrant and charged with breach of a release order.
He was also charged with breaking into a dwelling house and committing mischief concerning an incident on Feb. 18, 2023, in Woodstock; committing mischief causing property damage and breach of an undertaking on Dec. 9, 2022, at Upper Woodstock; and two counts of assault and committing mischief causing property damage on Dec. 8, 2022, at Upper Woodstock. A trial date was set for Sept. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Arrested and released
Tanna Wright of Perth-Andover appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17. She was arrested on a warrant after she failed to appear in provincial court for plea in April on three charges laid by RCMP.
Wright spent the weekend in jail and was released with conditions on Monday. She returns to court for plea on July 16 at 9:30 a.m. She was charged with assault with a weapon (knives and a bat) and two counts of uttering threats stemming from an incident on Dec. 16, 2023, at Greenfield.
In custody awaiting bail hearing
Brady Paul Brooks, 33, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 to answer new charges laid by Woodstock Police. He returns to court in custody for a bail hearing on June 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Brooks was charged with impaired driving, refusing a breathalyzer, breach of a release order, resisting arrest, uttering threats, assaulting police, and possession of a stolen vehicle concerning an incident on June 15 in Woodstock.
He appeared in court in custody by video on June 17 after spending the weekend in jail, and the matter was adjourned to the next day to set a date for his bail hearing.
Brooks also appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 23 for plea on other charges laid by Woodstock Police. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Brooks with uttering threats and breaking into a dwelling house in connection with incidents between Dec. 29, 2023, and Jan. 1 in Woodstock. He was remanded to Restigouche Hospital for a mental health assessment after being arrested on other charges in Edmundston and was later released.
In custody awaiting plea
Kyrin Moulton, 18, of Grand Falls, formerly of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17 on charges laid by the RCMP. He waived his bail until later and will return to court in custody for a plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Moulton was charged with breach of probation and two counts of breaching a release order for incidents on June 10 at Perth-Andover and Neqotkuk.
Moulton appeared in court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to return to court for plea on June 25 at 1:30 p.m. He was taken back into custody on June 12.
RCMP charged Moulton with assault involving a female victim, breach of probation, and breach of a release order stemming from an incident between April 14 and April 25 in Perth-Andover.
New charges for Woodstock man
Lucas Green, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17 to answer new charges laid by the RCMP. He waived his bail until later and returned to court in custody for a plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Green was charged with uttering threats, committing mischief, and causing property damage to a door in an incident on June 15 at Mapledale. He spent the weekend in jail before his court appearance on Monday.
Green appeared in provincial court for sentencing on April 23 after pleading guilty to an assault charge laid by RCMP. His sentencing was set for Aug. 13 at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the completion of a pre-sentence report.
Green was charged with aggravated assault against another man and committing mischief causing property damage to a vehicle in connection with an incident on Oct. 19, 2023, at Richmond Corner.
He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault causing bodily harm. The crown intends to withdraw the mischief charge at sentencing.
Green appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 27, 2023, for a fitness hearing. He was found fit to stand trial and released from custody with conditions.
He was remanded for a 30-day mental assessment at the Restigouche hospital when he appeared in provincial court in custody in October for a bail hearing by video in Fredericton.
Perth-Andover man returning for plea
James Blair Hovey, 27, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on June 18 to answer two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until July 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged Hovey with possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation stemming from an incident on Jan. 9 at Carlingford. He appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on May 21 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He was released with conditions.
Hovey appeared in provincial court on April 30 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for May 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. RCMP charged him with possession of a stolen ATV, flight from police, and breach of probation concerning an incident on March 30 at Tobique Narrows.
Hovey appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 2 and was released with conditions, including a curfew, but failed to return to court on May 7.
In custody awaiting plea
Nicholas Charles Paul, 46, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial court in custody for plea on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Paul was denied bail on June 3. He has been in custody since his arrest in early May. He was charged with breaching a release order by failing to follow the conditions of electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) following an incident on May 1 at Neqotkuk.
Woodstock Police also charged him with possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation concerning an incident in Woodstock on June 29, 2023.
Paul was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest after pleading guilty to a series of other charges laid by RCMP. The first six months will be full house arrest followed by six months with a curfew. However, he will not be released to begin his house arrest until the newer charges are resolved.
Paul pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing police, and breach of an undertaking on Dec. 3, 2021, in Grand Falls and Neqotkuk; guilty to
possession of a stolen vehicle, breach of probation and possession of a stolen credit card for an incident on Sept. 12, 2023, in Hartland; guilty to theft from a store in Carlingford on Aug. 30, 2023; guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of suspended driving, and two counts of flight from police for incidents on Aug. 8 and Aug. 11, 2023, in Perth Andover; and guilty to failing to attend court on Nov. 21, 2023.
He was fined $1,200 for driving while suspended and was prohibited from driving for one year.
Paul was also charged with flight from police and break-in and theft at a storage shed following an incident on Sept. 4, 2022, at Perth-Andover. He changed his plea to guilty and is still awaiting sentencing for those offences. Paul had a limited prior criminal record.
Sentencing set for Woodstock woman
Ashley Dawn Giberson, 33, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 17 and changed her plea to guilty on a breach charge laid by Woodstock Police. Her sentencing date was set for Sept. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Giberson was charged with breaching an undertaking on Oct. 11, 2022, in Woodstock by failing to follow a curfew and reside at a designated residence.
She also appeared in provincial court on April 30 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Her trial date was set for March 12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Giberson appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 27 and was released with conditions. Woodstock Police charged her with breach of a release order by failing to follow a curfew on Feb. 15 and shoplifting at the Canadian Tire in Woodstock on Feb. 3.
She was also charged with two counts of breaching a release order by failing to follow a curfew in Woodstock on Sept. 1 and Nov 9, 2023.
Neqotkuk man awaiting sentencing
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court on June 17 and pleaded guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Oct. 8 at 1:30 p.m.
Schloemer pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and assaulting police on June 21 at Neqotkuk and assaulting police on June 21 at Williamstown. The crown withdrew another charge of failing to appear in court.
Returning for plea
Billy Jean Kinney, 27, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on July 16 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Kinney was charged with breach of probation by failing to report to the probation office as ordered by the court on Dec. 6, 2022. She appeared in court on June 18 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charges withdrawn
The crown withdrew charges laid against Trevor Gerald McDougall, 32, of Perth-Andover, during provincial court on June 18.
Woodstock Police charged McDougall with uttering threats concerning an incident in Woodstock on July 17, 2023. He pleaded not guilty in October, and a trial date was set for Aug. 2.
McDougall was not in court on June 18 to hear the charges were being withdrawn. He also failed to appear in court for monitoring on April 16.
Plaster Rock man remains in remand
Steven Frank Powers, 59, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 to answer charges laid by RCMP. He waived his bail until later, and the matter was adjourned for plea until July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Powers was remanded in February for a mental health assessment at Restigouche Hospital after being arrested by RCMP. He was charged with breach of an undertaking and breach of probation for an incident in Plaster Rock. He has since been transferred back to jail in Madawaska.
Perth-Andover man on trial on sex charges
Matthew Eric Hughes, 28, of Perth-Andover, will appear in provincial court on June 19 for the continuation of his trial on two sex charges laid by RCMP.
RCMP charged Hughes with touching a minor for a sexual purpose and invitation to touching for a sexual purpose, stemming from an incident on Oct. 20, 2015, near Perth-Andover.
Crown testimony has already concluded.
York County man to stand trial
Joshua Cordell Thornton, 42, of Central Waterville, York County, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 19 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.
Woodstock Police charged Thornton with assault involving a female victim following an incident on May 21, 2023, in Woodstock. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Aug. 29, 2023.
In custody awaiting trial
Nicholas Carl Manzer, 26, of Newbridge, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 to answer a new charge. The matter was adjourned for plea until Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m., when he will appear for trial on other charges.
Manzer was charged with failing to appear in court on March 19 in Woodstock.
In April, he pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by RCMP and a trial date was set for Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged him with possession of a firearm (a rifle) while prohibited, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a stolen truck, improper storage of a firearm, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm for an incident on Nov. 11, 2023, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). He appeared in court in custody and was released with conditions but failed to return to court.
Manzer appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on April 5 and was remanded to jail. He was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in provincial court on March 19.
Manzer was also charged with two counts of breaching a release order, mischief causing damage to his ankle bracelet on March 4, and resisting arrest on April 3 at Wostak.
Remanded for plea
Cain Glendon Sparkes, 40, of Richibucto Road, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 to answer three charges laid by the RCMP. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for a plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Sparkes was charged with two counts of being at large on a release order and possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with an incident on May 24 at Lower Knoxford.
Turner and Brooker still in custody
Marshall Turner, 23, of Beaconsfield, and Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, remain in custody after being arrested and charged by RCMP following a police chase across Carleton North.
Turner appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on June 27 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with possession of a stolen truck, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation.
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 13 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until June 20 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Brooker appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to one charge laid by the RCMP. Her trial date will be set at her next court appearance. The RCMP charged her with being at large on a release order for an incident at Perth-Andover.
The court heard a conditional sentence order was revoked following her arrest, and she was held in custody.
Turner and Brooker were arrested on April 23 after police pursued them through Beaconsfield, Florenceville-Bristol, and Johnville. They were apprehended with the assistance of a police dog and a police helicopter. They both have prior criminal records.
First trial set in kidnapping at Neqotkuk
The first trial has been scheduled for one of seven individuals charged in relation to a violent kidnapping at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) in April.
Troy Pelkey, 56, of Tilley, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 and pleaded not guilty to four charges. His three-day trial was set for Sept. 11-13 at 9:30 a.m. Pelkey was denied bail on May 10.
Jacob Perley, 34, of Neqotkuk, also appeared in court in custody by video on June 18 and waived his bail until later. Sixteen charges were adjourned for plea until July 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Perley was also charged with breaching a conditional sentence order (house arrest). He appeared in custody by video on June 3 and was remanded to complete the rest of his sentence (317 days) behind bars.
On June 18, Jacob Perley was also ordered to serve another 27 days in jail for defaulting on a $1,200 fine for suspended driving. He also has a trial continuation pending on separate charges of drug trafficking and will stand trial in January on fraud charges.
Keagan Paul, 32, and Preston Sockabasin, 27, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 for their bail hearings. They were released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to their ankles. They must also follow a curfew and undergo a 90-day drug rehabilitation program in their community.
Both men were ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and they were prohibited from possessing firearms. Paul and Sockabasin were also ordered to have no contact with the victim or any of the five others charged in the crime.
Keagan Paul returns to court for plea on July 4 at 1:30 p.m. Preston Sockabasin will appear for plea on July 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Sheena Sappier, 36, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 31 for her bail hearing. She was released with conditions, including a curfew and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle. She must also enter a drug rehab program in her community.
Sappier returns to court for plea on July 4 at 9:30 a.m. and must have no contact with the victim or any of the co-accused.
The kidnapping with violence was alleged to have occurred in the First Nation community between April 27 and April 29.
Pelkey, Sappier, Paul, Sockabasin, Jacob Perley, 34, Ashley Paul, 33, and Adam Perley, 33, were arrested by RCMP and remanded to jail.
The victim, a 54-year-old woman from Florenceville-Bristol, was kidnapped at gunpoint, held against her will for two days, assaulted, and administered a noxious substance with intent to extort $10,000. She was treated at hospital with significant, but non-life threatening injuries, and has since been released.
A total of 62 charges were laid, including using a handgun to kidnap a female victim, extortion, uttering threats, assault, assault causing bodily harm, administering a noxious substance, forcible confinement using a choke hold, plastic bag and tape, possession of a prohibited firearm, pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, resisting arrest, unlawful confinement, theft of a motor vehicle, obstructing justice by disposing of evidence, and possession of a firearm without a licence.
Ashley Paul appeared in court in custody by video on June 18 when her bail hearing was adjourned until June 27 at 11 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel. She also has other outstanding charges pending on separate matters.
Preston Sockabasin also faces separate charges of dangerous driving and flight from police for an incident on May 7.
Adam Perley appeared in court in custody by video for a bail hearing on May 30 and was denied bail. He returns to court in custody for plea on July 16 at 10 a.m.
The RCMP police dog service and air services assisted with the kidnapping investigation and arrests of the seven individuals charged. Police say the investigation is ongoing. A search warrant was executed at a residence at Neqotkuk on May 6.
Plymouth Road man faces additional charge
Andrew Pelkey, 44, of Plymouth Road, appeared in provincial court on June 18 to answer a charge of failing to appear in court. He returns to court for plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Pelkey appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Feb. 5 and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant when he appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 2. His trial was adjourned until July 19 at 9:30 a.m.
The warrant was issued after Pelkey failed to appear in court for plea on Dec. 19, 2023. He was also charged with breaching his release order by violating his curfew following an incident in Woodstock on Sept. 30, 2023.
He appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 30, 2023, on eight other charges laid by the RCMP. The trial was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel, but due to his arrest, it did not proceed as scheduled.
At an earlier court appearance, Pelkey pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon (a belt, glass bottle and stick), assault by choking, uttering threats, assault, pointing a firearm at another person, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (BB guns and a pellet gun), careless use of a firearm, and willfully causing pain to a dog by shooting it with a pellet gun. The charges were laid in connection with incidents which occurred between Feb. 1 and March 21, 2023, near Richmond Corner. The alleged threats and assaults involve a female victim.
