Eight months in jail for knife assault, threats
Daniel Jr. Francis, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was sentenced to eight months in jail, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 30. He has been in custody since his arrest in May.
Francis pleaded guilty to two counts of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving two male victims, and possession of ammunition while prohibited, concerning an incident on May 5 at Neqotkuk. He also pleaded guilty to uttering threats on April 23 at Neqotkuk. The crown withdrew two other charges.
Judge Henrik Tonning also placed Francis on probation for two years and ordered him to register with the federal DNA database. He must also seek counselling for mental health, anger management, and addiction. Francis has a lengthy prior criminal record.
“You get on this stuff (meth) and get out of control,” Judge Tonning told the accused. “You’ve got to get your feet on the ground. Enough is enough. You can’t be waving knives around and wanting to fight with everyone. You’re headed for federal penitentiary soon if you don’t stop.”
“I’m sorry I let drugs get the best of me,” Francis replied. “It’s a hard habit to break. I’ve been on methadone in jail.”
The court heard Francis went to a Neqotkuk residence on the evening of April 23, where he banged on a window and screamed at the owner inside, uttering threats to burn down her house.
On May 5, two security officers located him in another yard late at night. He brandished a knife and charged at the officers, who were able to subdue him and called the police. All weapons and ammunition seized during the investigation were forfeited to the crown. A lifetime prohibition on firearms was imposed on the accused.
Split verdict, sentencing set
Jason Norman Dumont, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on July 30 for a verdict following his trial on several charges laid by the RCMP and Woodstock Police.
Judge Henrik Tonning found Dumont not guilty of assault causing bodily harm and not guilty of assault by choking involving a female victim, but guilty of criminal harassment, breaching a peace bond, and improper storage of a firearm. He returns to court in custody for sentencing on Sept. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Dumont 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 Oct. 24, 2015, in Mount Pleasant. He appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on May 12 and was remanded to jail.
Tonning told the court that testimony during the trial revealed details of a tumultuous relationship, but evidence presented by the victim about the alleged assaults was unreliable. Dumont denied the allegations during the trial.
Dumont pleaded guilty to a separate charge of driving while suspended on Feb. 28 in Woodstock. He will also be sentenced for that offence on Sept. 5.
Denied bail and remanded
Loic Boulay, 22, of Oromocto, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 28 for a bail hearing on five charges laid by Woodstock Police. Judge Henrik Tonning denied him bail and he’ll return to court in custody for plea on Aug. 14 at 9:30 a.m.
Boulay was charged with breaching a no-contact order, unlawful confinement, assaulting a female victim, assault by choking and uttering threats for an incident on July 15 in Northampton. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
He also appeared in provincial court on July 8 and pleaded not guilty to other two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial was set for May 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Boulay was charged with breaching a no-contact order and breaking into a residence on St. John Street on May 25 in Woodstock. The crown withdrew another charge of mischief. He had no prior criminal record.
Fined $2,000 for breathalyzer offence
Gerald Charles Levesque, 69, of Plaster Rock, was fined $2,000 and prohibited from driving for one year after being found guilty after trial on July 29 on a breathalyzer charge laid by the RCMP.
RCMP charged Levesque with refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident on Jan. 22, 2023, at Perth-Andover. He was stopped by police around 1:35 a.m. on Riverside Drive.
Returning for plea
Stacey Dixon, 36, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Dixon was charged with assault involving a male victim and assault by choking concerning an incident on April 25 in Upper Woodstock. She made her first court appearance on July 29 when the matter was adjourned to allow her time to secure legal counsel.
In rehab, awaiting sentence
Tanna Wright, 27, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 28 for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Tracey Mills with an ankle bracelet and under full house arrest. She returns to court in custody for sentencing on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
On May 1, she appeared for trial in provincial court and changed her plea to guilty on five charges laid by the RCMP. Her sentencing was rescheduled for Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Wright pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 at Weaver. The crown withdrew several other charges.
She also pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (knives and a bat) and two counts of uttering threats on Dec. 16, 2023, in Greenfield, and guilty to theft of a wallet for a separate incident on June 19, 2024, in Perth-Andover.
Sentenced to time served
Jayson Lee O’Hagan, 21, of Bairdsville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and proceeded to sentencing on charges laid by the RCMP.
O’Hagan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and breaching a release order on Sept. 15, 2024, near Bairdsville. He was handed 15 days or time served and a one-year driving prohibition.
He also pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching a release order and received 60 days of house arrest and 24 months of probation. However, he remains in custody due to other charges in Edmundston.
O’Hagan appeared in provincial court in custody on May 8 and was released with conditions. He failed to appear in court for sentencing on June 26, and an arrest warrant was issued.
Charged with trafficking, assault
Michelle Augustine of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court on July 30 via teleconference to answer a drug trafficking charge and an assault charge.
Augustine was charged by the RCMP with trafficking in cocaine in connection with an incident on Aug. 30, 2024, at Neqotkuk. The charge stemmed from an undercover police investigation in the community. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Sept. 3-4, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Augustine was also charged with assaulting another woman with a weapon (a stick) on April 29, 2025, at Neqotkuk. The court heard the crown was considering allowing the accused to enter the alternative measures program for the assault charge. She returns to court on Aug. 12 at 9:30 a.m.to discuss the program with the crown.
Released with conditions
Brodey O’Donnell, 22, of Campbell Settlement, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on July 28 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Donnell was charged by the RCMP with assaulting police, uttering threats, and resisting arrest for an incident on July 17 at Campbell Settlement. He appeared in court in custody via teleconference on July 17 and was remanded to await bail.
Awaiting bail hearing
Greg Paul McCormick, 36, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 30 for a bail hearing. At the request of his defence counsel, the matter was adjourned until Aug. 14 at 9:30 a.m., when a new date for his bail hearing will be set.
McCormick appeared in court on July 4 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.
McCormick was charged by the RCMP with arson causing damage to a dwelling house, three counts of uttering threats, breaking into a dwelling house to commit mischief, three counts of assaulting a police officer while threatening to use gasoline, and causing injury to a dog by choking it in connection with an incident on June 25 at Wotstak. No plea has yet been entered.
Found fit to stand trial
William (Billy) Harding, 35, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 29 for a fitness hearing following a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. He was found fit to stand trial and was scheduled to return to court in custody by video for a bail hearing on July 30 at 1:30 p.m.
Harding also has a plea date on multiple charges on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. RCMP charged him with breaking into a dwelling house, mischief, causing damage 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. She also returns to court on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
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.
Woman with 10 files sent to rehab
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 29 for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Shediac with an ankle bracelet and under full house arrest. She returns to court in custody for plea on Aug. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Judge Henrik Tonning noted Phillips had 10 files before the court. She was charged with breaching her release order (ankle bracelet) and breaking into a dwelling house on July 8 in Upper Woodstock.
She pleaded not guilty in April to other charges laid by the RCMP. Phillips was charged by the RCMP with breaching her release order (curfew) on March 17 and resisting arrest on March 16 at Wilmot and breaching her curfew in connection with an incident on Jan. 23 in Woodstock. Her trial was scheduled for April 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Phillips is also awaiting trial on Feb. 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. on other charges of flight from police and dangerous driving following an incident on Feb. 24, 2024, in 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 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 illegal possession of methamphetamine and breaking into a dwelling house on March 31, 2024, in Woodstock.
Trial adjourned for Glassville man
Adam Luc Joseph Thibodeau of Glassville appeared for trial in provincial court on July 28 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial was adjourned at the request of the crown until Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m.
Thibodeau was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a stolen licence plate in connection with an incident on April 9, 2024, in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking until his trial.
New charges for Kintore man
Cole Wade Gray, 23, of Upper Kintore, appeared in provincial court on July 29 and pleaded not guilty to three new charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Aug. 21, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Gray was charged with two counts of mischief and uttering threats concerning an incident on March 18 at Lower Kintore. He was released on an undertaking until his trial.
He also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 18 for a monitoring hearing after pleading not guilty to another charge laid by the RCMP. His trial was set Nov. 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Gray was charged with theft of lumber between July 21, 2023, and July 23, 2023, in Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. The crown withdrew another charge of unlawful entry at a dwelling house.
Gray also appeared in provincial court in custody in March on other separate charges and was released without conditions. He was charged by the RCMP 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.
Neqotkuk man to enter plea
Brock Vollmar, 48, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was scheduled for plea on July 22 but was adjourned to the new date.
Vollmar was charged by the RCMP with unlawful confinement, assault involving a female victim, and uttering threats for an incident on July 9 at Neqotkuk. He is also facing a theft charge for an incident at the Ultramar in Carlingford.
He appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on July 14 and was released with conditions.
Awaiting plea on assault charge
Jeffrey Baker Christensen, 57, of Perth-Andover, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 19 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.
RCMP charged Christensen with assault involving a female victim, stemming from an incident on March 23 at Perth-Andover. He was scheduled for plea on July 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Scheduled for trial
Benjamin Watson, 40, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.
Woodstock Police charged Watson with assault involving a female victim, stemming from an incident on May 19 in Woodstock. His defence counsel entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf on July 29.
Bail hearing adjourned
Brandon Michael Francis, 29, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 28 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody on Aug. 14 at 9:30 a.m. for a monitoring hearing.
RCMP charged Francis with breaching his release order by violating the conditions of electronic monitoring and mischief, causing damage to his ankle bracelet on May 1 in Perth-Andover, and breaching his house arrest on May 8. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial will be held on Aug. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Francis and Morgan Nicholas, 28, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court together on July 10 and pleaded not guilty to other charges related to an alleged break-in at a dwelling house. Francis appeared in custody by video. They pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set for Aug. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Francis and Nicholas were each charged with breaking into a dwelling house, mischief, causing property damage to a door and window, and assaulting another man with a wooden two-by-four in connection with an incident on April 29 at Neqotkuk. Francis also faces additional charges of uttering threats, resisting arrest, and breach of probation concerning the same incident. Both men have prior criminal records.
Nicholas appeared in provincial court on July 10 to answer two other charges laid by the RCMP. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Jan. 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Nicholas appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 16 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was arrested on June 3 and charged with theft from a gas bar and breaching his release order concerning an incident on May 25 at Neqotkuk.
Three await jail sentence for kidnapping
Sentencing has been delayed for three men from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), who acted as bounty hunters during a violent kidnapping in the community last April.
Jacob Perley, 34, Adam Perley, 33, and Preston Sockabasin, 27, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on July 30. Judge Natalie H. LeBlanc adjourned their sentencing until Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. with the consent of the crown and defence counsel.
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.
At an earlier court appearance, Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver told the court the men were among a group of seven individuals who acted like a gang in the kidnapping. He explained their violent actions were fuelled by drugs and 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 the 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, possession of 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 firearm charges against Adam Perley. A charge of unlawful confinement laid against Sockabasin was also withdrawn.
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.
Sheena Sappier, 36, Keegan 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 the kidnapping. All three accused were released until their sentencing on Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Keegan 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 attempting 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.
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 before Judge Anne Marie Richard continues in provincial court on Aug. 21-22. Pelkey remains in custody.
