Guilty verdict means significant federal time expected for Butler
Rodney Butler, 50, of Bulls Creek, is expected to receive a hefty federal prison sentence on Jan. 13 after being found guilty on all eight charges related to the kidnapping and violent assault of a Scotts Siding man in 2021.
Butler appeared before Chief Judge Brian C. McLean on Dec. 16, 2024. At that time, the crown submitted a written recommendation for Butler to serve 10 to 14 years in federal prison.
Defence Counsel Alex Pate told the court he was not ready to proceed and needed more time to respond to the crown’s recommendation for Butler. His sentencing was adjourned until Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Butler with intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless as to the life and safety of another person, indictable assault, uttering threats, using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a firearm without a licence, and illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle on Nov. 13, 2021, at Bulls Creek.
Judge McLean found him guilty on all counts after a five-day trial.
No charges have been laid in relation to the killing of Christine Pelletier-Thibodeau, Butler’s former partner, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck during a shootout outside Butler’s residence on the night of the kidnapping.
RCMP officer charged with assault
Corporal Andrew Whiteway, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will stand trial at the Court of King’s Bench by judge alone on Jan. 12-15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Defence Counsel T.J. Burke represented Whiteway at a court appearance on Nov. 27, 2024. At that time, Burke said his client was electing trial to the higher court and entered a non-guilty plea on his behalf. His trial date was set for Jan. 2.
Whiteway was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly striking a woman in the face during an arrest in Richmond Corner on June 13, 2024. Police were called to a family disturbance in Richmond Corner when a female individual suffered serious injuries during the altercation.
The incident was investigated by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiIRT), which is responsible for investigating matters involving police officers.
Whiteway has been temporarily reassigned to administrative duties as a result of the investigation.
RCMP officer’s plea adjourned
Constable Christopher Sorensen, 44, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 29, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on theft charges and one count of breach of trust.
Sorensen was scheduled for plea on Dec. 11, 2024, but the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
The police officer did not attend the hearing on Dec. 11, 2024. He faces four counts of theft and one count of breach of trust in connection with missing and unaccounted-for exhibits, including cash, seized during a recent crime investigation. Sorensen was a member of the Provincial Crime Reduction Unit.
The charges against him followed an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), an agency that independently investigates accusations against police officers in New Brunswick. The investigation by SIRT was launched in April.
In custody awaiting trial
Hilton Romeo Fredericks, 26, of Kirkland, will appear for trial in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. He has been in jail in Saint John for the past several months following a conviction for aggravated assault in Fredericton.
Woodstock Police charged Fredericks with breaching a release order stemming from an incident between Feb. 16 and March 16, 2024, in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 7, 2024, and was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was later arrested in Fredericton.
Fredericks pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Trial dates were set for Jan. 13 and Jan. 15, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 15, 2024, to answer another charge of breaching his release order. Woodstock Police charged him with being at large on a release order on April 13, 2024. He was wearing an ankle bracelet at the time. He waived his bail on April 18, 2024, and was remanded.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on April 11, 2024, for a bail hearing on a charge of breaching his release order. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Woodstock Police charged him with breaching his release order by being at large at a Woodstock residence and by violating a no-contact order on April 6, 2024.
Fredericks appeared in court in custody on April 4, 2024, and was charged with assaulting another man concerning an incident on April 2, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released with conditions but returned to custody.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody on March 18, 2024, on a charge of breaching his release order laid by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions at that time but was re-arrested.
Fredericks appeared in provincial court on March 12, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to two other charges laid by Woodstock Police. Woodstock Police charged him with assault involving a female victim and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on Jan. 23, 2024, in Woodstock. He was brought into custody on Jan. 26, 2024, and spent the weekend in jail.
Plea adjourned to new date
Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 9 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Hargrove appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 17, 2024, and waived his bail until later. He was charged by RCMP with possession of a stolen vehicle, flight from police, driving while prohibited and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 8, 2024, at Tobique Narrows.
He was also charged with breaking into a cabin, theft, and mischief causing property damage to a door in relation to a separate incident. More charges of aggravated assault involving a male victim and possession of a stolen motorcycle were also laid for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent.
Trial adjourned to November
Cole Wade Gray, 23, of Upper Kintore, appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan. 9 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m. to allow Gray time to seek legal counsel. A monitoring date was set for Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Gray was charged with unlawful entry at a dwelling house on March 23, 2024, in Plaster Rock and theft of lumber between July 21 and July 23, 2023, in Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. He pleaded not guilty to both charges at his court appearance on Jan. 9.
Gray also appeared in provincial court in custody in March on other separate charges and was released without conditions. RCMP charged Gray with breaching curfew and breaching a release order between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, 2023, at Aroostook. He pleaded not guilty to both charges, and his trial will now be held on Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing set on two charges
Edward Hayes Jr., 29, of Benton, will appear for sentencing in provincial court in custody on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to two charges.
Hayes pleaded guilty to flight from police and breach of probation. He also appeared in appeared in custody by video on Oct. 3, 2024, and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. His trial dates were set for Jan. 13, at 1:30 p.m. and Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, at 9:30 a.m.
Hayes was denied bail. He was charged with refusing a breathalyzer demand, resisting arrest, assaulting two police officers, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault on a female victim, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and driving while prohibited in connection with an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Centreville.
Sentencing scheduled
John Long, 35, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 13 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Long appeared in court on Jan. 12, 2024, for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. He was charged with two counts of breaching a release order and breach of probation concerning a Jan. 5, 2024, incident in Woodstock.
He changed his plea to guilty to one charge of breaching his release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet), and the other two charges were withdrawn by the crown. The court heard one other mischief charge is being transferred from Edmundston in relation to property damage at the jail.
Change of plea in sex trial
Ryan Coles, 33, of Drumheller, Alberta, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m. on one sex charge laid by RCMP.
Coles was charged with touching a female minor for a sexual purpose, invitation to sexual touching, and sexual assault in connection with an incident on Sept. 2, 2022, in Perth-Andover.
On Oct. 9, 2024, Coles appeared in provincial court for the continuation of his trial and changed his plea to guilty of touching a female minor for a sexual purpose (indictable). The remaining two charges will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing.
The court heard the victim testified at length during the trial about being sexually assaulted by the accused. A Snapchat conversation was also entered into evidence by the crown.
Crown Prosecutor Samantha Goodine said she would seek a jail sentence for Coles, while Defence Counsel T.J. Burke advised that he would request a conditional sentence order of house arrest.
Chief Judge Brian C. McLean requested victim impact statements and a pre-sentence report before sentencing takes place in February.
Bustard awaits sentencing
Mason Bustard, 18, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Jan. 6 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for Jan. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Bustard was denied bail on Aug. 8. He pleaded guilty on Monday to uttering threats against a female on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock and guilty to breaking into a garage on Houlton Street, wearing a mask during the commission of an offence, and assault with a weapon (a knife) on July 16, 2024, in Woodstock. The crown withdrew two other charges.
Bustard was arrested after police received a report of an armed intruder who entered a yard on Houlton Street on the morning of July 16, 2024, and approached a woman while holding a knife. The man’s face was partially covered with a mask or scarf.
He instructed the woman to go inside her house. She immediately complied and locked the door behind her. The man then went inside her garage before eventually leaving the area.
Bustard agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on other separate charges of entering a dwelling house and assaulting his mother on July 27, 2024, in Woodstock.
He is still scheduled for trial on charges of breach of a release order, possession of prohibited weapons (a sawed-off shotgun and brass knuckles), possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence on July 28, 2024, in Woodstock.
On Jan. 10, Bustard’s trial date was adjourned to Feb. 7 and Feb. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Police arrested him after spotting a suspect on Houlton Street around 12 p.m. on July 28, 2024. The individual fled on a bicycle into the woods and was pursued by officers on foot. During the chase, the suspect discarded various items, including a sawed-off shotgun, brass knuckles, and a mask, which were retrieved later by an RCMP police dog.
Trial scheduled to continue
Christopher Hazen Hamilton, 50, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 8 for his trial after pleading not guilty to 12 charges laid by Woodstock Police.
The trial continued late into the afternoon on Jan. 8 and is slated to continue on Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. Judge Sebastian Michaud heard testimony from police officers and the female victim, who described horrific details of domestic violence involving the accused.
Hamilton appeared in custody by video on June 10, 2024, and was released from custody with conditions including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, three counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a broken teacup) and attempting to cause injury and suffering to a dog, concerning incidents between March 1 and May 24, 2024, in Woodstock.
Hamilton was also charged with assaulting a female victim, uttering threats and mischief causing property damage on May 25, 2024, and assaulting a female victim and assault with a weapon (a cigar) on May 26, 2024. The alleged incidents occurred in Woodstock. He spent several days in remand before his release.
Trial set on three sex charges
Joseph Michael Sercerchi, 73, of Bayfield, Ontario, will appear for trial at the Court of King’s Bench by judge alone on Sept. 8-12, at 9:30 a.m. in relation to three sex charges laid by Woodstock Police. A pre-trial conference will also be held on Feb. 3.
Sercerchi appeared in provincial court on Oct. 25, 2024, for a preliminary hearing and was committed to stand trial. He was charged with three counts of indictable sexual assault involving a female minor in connection with incidents which occurred between Jan. 1, 1991, and Dec. 31, 1998, in Woodstock.
Johnville man denied bail
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 9 for a bail hearing and was denied bail.
O’Donnell remains in custody awaiting trial on several matters. He faces charges of possession of stolen property (cheques) on Dec. 16, 2023, in Beechwood and mischief causing property damage on Feb. 15, 2024. RCMP laid the charges. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
On April 11, 2024, he was in custody by video to answer a sex charge laid by the RCMP. He pleaded not guilty. He was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in Beechwood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021. His trial date was set for Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m.
The court heard he was also facing other charges in Edmundston. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.
Neqotkuk woman to stand trial
Leah Driscoll, 43, of Neqotkuk, will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 21 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP.
Driscoll was scheduled to appear for trial in June, but the matter was adjourned on Jan. 10 to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Driscoll appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 29, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. She was charged with breaching a release order on May 27, 2024, and resisting arrest and breaching a release order on April 29, 2024.
She also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 19, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. Driscoll was charged with obstructing a police officer and two counts of willfully neglecting an animal (two dogs) concerning an incident on July 23, 2023, at Neqotkuk.
Directed verdict of not guilty
Sara Ann Broad, 41, of Moose Mountain, appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan. 10 on three charges laid by RCMP, but the crown called for no evidence, so Broad received a directed verdict of not guilty.
Broad was charged with mischief on June 18, 2023, and assault and breaching a no-contact order on June 28, 2023, at Johnville. Those charges were dismissed when the male complainant failed to appear to testify.
She was awaiting trial later in the day on Jan. 10 on other separate charges of mischief and impaired driving for an incident on Aug. 13, 2023.
Broad also appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 5, 2024, after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. After a half day of testimony, Judge Lyne Raymond reserved her decision until Jan. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Broad with assault involving a female minor in connection with an incident between Sept. 27 and Dec. 27, 2022.
Trial adjourned to December
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of Richmond Corner, will appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to 10 charges laid by RCMP.
Her trial was first set for June but was adjourned on Jan. 10 to the new date at the request of her defence counsel. A warrant will be held on file until her next court appearance.
Phillips was charged by RCMP with flight from police and dangerous driving following an incident on Feb. 24, 2024, at Jacksonville.
Woodstock Police also charged her with flight from police and driving while suspended on Feb. 6, 2024, fraudulent impersonation, using a credit card knowing it was obtained by fraudulent means, and defrauding the Walmart in Woodstock between Aug. 10, 2019, and June 23, 2023.
She appeared in provincial court in custody on April 18, 2024, on another charge of breaching her curfew laid by Woodstock Police.
Phillips appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 2, 2024, on other charges laid by Woodstock Police. She was released with conditions at that time, including a curfew. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine and breaking into a dwelling house on March 31, 2024, in Woodstock.
She is also scheduled for trial on Jan. 16 at 9:30 a.m., in relation to other separate charges. She appeared in court on Feb. 20, 2024, to get a new trial date after coming to court in January unprepared for her trial.
Phillips was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of stolen property (Sobeys gift card) concerning an incident on May 30, 2022, in Woodstock.
