Sentenced to three months or time served
Zachary Sarchfield, 30, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), was sentenced to three months in jail or time served when he appeared in provincial court in custody on June 30. He was released from custody and placed on probation for a period of 12 months.
Sarchfield was charged with breaching his release order by violating electronic monitoring and committing mischief, causing property damage to an ankle bracelet for an incident on Sept. 6, 2024, at Mainstream. He pleaded guilty to both charges.
Sarchfield was also charged with breaching his release order on Feb. 20, 2024; two counts of unlawful confinement, assault, and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, concerning another incident on Sept. 11, 2023, in Woodstock. He was also charged with assault for an incident on March 24, 2024, in Canterbury. He pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for trial.
On June 30, he agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on the two assault charges and the remaining charges were withdrawn. Sarchfield had been in custody for several months.
Fined $500, probation
Jeffrey David Watson, 33, of Johnville, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 2 and changed his plea to guilty on one charge laid by the RCMP. He was fined $500 and placed on probation for a period of 12 months.
Watson pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm (a rifle) without a licence for an incident on Nov. 27, 2023, in Lower Kintore. Two other charges, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace and careless use of a gun, were withdrawn by the crown. He had no prior criminal record.
The court heard police were called to the scene of a single-vehicle accident in Lower Kintore around 9 p.m. Watson was spotted later walking down the road in an intoxicated condition while carrying his rifle.
Found not guilty
Michael Langlois-Martell, 33, of Grand Falls, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 27 on four charges laid by RCMP. He was found not guilty on all four counts.
Langlois-Martell was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle (a Toyota Tundra), possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump action shotgun), storage of a firearm in a careless manner, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace concerning an incident on Aug. 4, 2023, at Tobique Narrows.
Possession of child pornography
Corey Dean Bartlett, 56, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 2 for plea on a charge of possession of child pornography. The matter was adjourned for plea until July 15 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Bartlett waved his bail until later. RCMP charged him in connection with an incident in February 2017 at Tobique Narrows.
In custody awaiting trial
Jason Norman Dumont, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on July 3 for a monitoring hearing regarding his trial. He pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by RCMP, and trial dates were set for July 21 at 1:30 p.m. and July 23 at 9:30 a.m.
On Thursday, Dumont informed the court that he was still without a lawyer, and the matter was set over for further monitoring on July 15 at 9:30 a.m. He remains in custody for his trial.
RCMP charged Dumont with three counts of uttering threats, assault causing bodily harm, assault by choking, and breach of a peace bond. He was charged in connection with a series of incidents between March 17 and May 4 in Woodstock, between July 1 and 5, 2023, in Mount Pleasant, and on October 24, 2015, in Mount Pleasant.
He appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on May 12 and was remanded to jail.
Bail hearing delayed
Samuel Robert Crewe, 30, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 30 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until July 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Crewe was charged with being at large on a release order by violating his house arrest, stemming from an incident on June 24 in Woodstock.
He also appeared in provincial court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for July 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe was charged with flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of a release order following an incident on May 6 in Woodstock.
He also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 18 and pleaded not guilty to four more charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Feb. 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
He appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Jan. 6 and was released with conditions.
Crewe was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine, flight from police, dangerous driving and driving while prohibited in connection with an incident in Kirkland on Jan. 4. He has a prior criminal record.
Denied bail and remanded
Joshua Adam Demerchant, 35, of Pembroke, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 30 for a bail hearing on several charges laid by RCMP. He was denied bail and will return to court in custody for plea on July 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was arrested on June 26 on a warrant and faces new charges of dangerous driving, fleeing police, and driving while suspended.
Demerchant pleaded not guilty to several other charges and was scheduled for trial in January, but failed to appear. He was charged by Woodstock Police with two counts of breaching a release order stemming from incidents on Oct. 18, 2023, at Pembroke and on Dec. 4, 2023, in Woodstock.
He was also charged by RCMP with possession of stolen property (an ATV) and failing to stop for police in connection with an incident on July 12, 2023, near Hartland.
Arrested on a warrant
Cole Paul Smith, 30, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 30 after being arrested on a warrant. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on July 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Smith was charged with breaching a release order by violating electronic monitoring and mischief, causing damage to his ankle bracelet following an incident on June 24 at Mapledale. He was also charged with flight from police, breaching his house arrest and dangerous driving for an incident on June 29 at East Brighton.
Smith appeared in provincial court in custody via video for a bail hearing on May 1 and was released with conditions, but subsequently returned to custody.
Woodstock Police charged him with assault with a weapon (a metal stool) and two counts of uttering threats on April 10-11 in Woodstock.
RCMP also charged him with assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, and two counts of uttering threats concerning another incident between Nov. 15 and Nov. 30, 2024, in Johnville. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
Smith also appeared in provincial court on April 8 and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for March 30, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. He was charged with uttering threats, assault by choking and unlawful entry at a dwelling house on Oct. 22, 2024, at Johnville.
Released with conditions
Nekko Dominique, 32, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 30 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and will return to court for a plea on July 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Dominique appeared in provincial court via video in custody on April 15 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was scheduled to return for plea on June 17, but failed to appear, and an arrest warrant was issued.
RCMP also charged him with breaching a release order (curfew), theft, and breach of probation for an incident on April 12 at Neqotkuk.
Found fit to stand trial
Brandon Edward Cormier Sabattis, 31, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 2 for a fitness hearing following a second, five-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche Hospital.
Sabattis was found fit to stand trial and was released with conditions until his next court appearance in Bathurst. He 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.
Adjourned for plea
McKayla Ruth McLaughlin, 22, of Pembroke, appeared in provincial court on July 3 to answer two charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until July 22 at 9:30 a.m. to allow her more time to consult legal counsel.
McLaughlin was charged with assault with a weapon (hot coffee) and assault causing bodily harm to a male victim in connection with an incident on May 24, 2023, in Woodstock.
In custody awaiting plea
Vinal Todd Hatto, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 3 to answer charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Aug. 5 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Hatto was denied bail on May 29. He was charged with flight from police, resisting arrest, driving while prohibited and possession of a stolen motorcycle in connection with an incident on May 28 in Lower Woodstock. He has a prior criminal record.
Beaconsfield man awaiting plea
Austin Powers, 26, of Beaconsfield, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on July 3 for a plea on multiple charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Powers was denied bail on June 6. He was charged with two counts of breaching a recognizance on May 15 and May 20 at Plaster Rock; assault while threatening to use a weapon (a wooden mallet), assault involving a female victim, two counts of uttering threats, breaching an order not to have weapons in his possession on May 21 at Plaster Rock; and resisting arrest and uttering threats to police on May 23 at Plaster Rock. Powers has a prior criminal record.
Trial adjourned
Clay Nicholson, 28, of Woodstock, formerly of Clearview, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 3 after pleading not guilty to multiple charges laid by RCMP.
The trial was adjourned at the request of the crown, and a new date will be set on July 17 at 9:30 a.m. Warrants were issued for three crown witnesses who were not present to testify on Thursday.
Nicholson was charged with assault with a weapon (a pizza cutter), unlawful entry at a dwelling house, uttering threats, and assaulting another man on May 24, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol.
He was also charged with assaulting a woman and assault by choking on Aug. 15, 2024, at Centreville, and breach of a no-contact order on Aug. 22, 2024, in Centreville.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 26, 2024, and was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
New trial date
Dana Spencer, 42, of Fredericton, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 3 on three charges laid by the RCMP. The trial was adjourned until July 23 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of the crown. Not all crown witnesses were present to testify.
Spencer was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats on April 15, 2024, at Maplehurst and breach of an undertaking (no contact order) for an incident on April 24, 2024, at Maplehurst. He pleaded not guilty.
Spencer pleaded guilty to another charge of refusing a breathalyzer demand concerning a separate incident on Aug. 19, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol. He will be sentenced after his trial on the other matters.
On Thursday, he said he wanted to apply for a variation to his release order as he had been following a curfew and wearing an ankle bracelet for an extended period of time. The crown would not agree to the variation.
