More jail time expected for assault with loaded handgun
A Woodstock man is expected to receive a lengthy jail term for committing an assault against his former partner using a nine-millimetre handgun.
Allan Charles McLaughlin, 64, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on Sept. 4 after pleading guilty to weapons charges related to a violent domestic dispute.
After hearing submissions from both the crown and defence counsel, Judge Leslie Jackson reserved his decision on sentence until Sept. 10 at 2 p.m.
McLaughlin was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a nine-millimetre handgun), pointing a firearm at a female victim, assault with a weapon (a handgun), and careless use of a firearm in connection with an incident on April 13 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order on April 15 in Canterbury.
Crown Prosecutor Charles Couturier recommended McLaughlin receive 16 to 20 months in jail, minus time served, and two years of probation. The Crown also suggested the accused seek counselling for anger management and be ordered to register with the federal DNA database. A 10-year prohibition on firearms was also requested.
Defence Counsel Bronwyn Mooney asked for 168 days in jail or time served, followed by house arrest and probation. She noted McLaughlin had a dated prior criminal record. He has been in custody since his arrest in April and was denied bail on May 29.
The court heard Woodstock Police attended a residence on April 13 to answer a call about a domestic dispute. During the course of their investigation, they determined McLaughlin had produced a loaded handgun and pointed it at a female victim during the altercation.
The accused was intoxicated at the time and wanted the woman to leave his property. They worked together at a local taxi company, which McLaughlin owned, but their personal relationship was ending.
“I know better than to do what I did,” McLaughlin told the court. “Whatever I get I deserve it. I’m sorry for it.”
Following the incident, police executed a search warrant at the same residence, which resulted in the seizure of a large quantity of firearms, including handguns, rifles and shotguns, and more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition.
10 months in jail, minus time served
Jason Norman Dumont, 40, of Woodstock, was sentenced to 10 months in jail, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 5. He will have four months left on his sentence once his remand time is applied.
Judge Henrik Tonning also placed him on 24 months of probation and ordered him to seek counselling as required. The judge also imposed a 10-year prohibition on firearms.
On July 30, Tonning found Dumont not guilty after trial 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.
“A lot of things I’d like to take back, but this is where we are,” Dumont told the court as the sentence was imposed.
He was charged in connection with a series of incidents between March 17 and May 4 in Woodstock; between July 1-5, 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.
Dumont pleaded guilty to a separate charge of driving while suspended on Feb. 28 in Woodstock. He had a dated prior criminal record that contained no previous convictions for domestic violence.
Released to rehab in Moncton
Vinal Todd Hatto, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for sentencing on Sept. 4 after pleading guilty to three charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Judge Leslie Jackson sentenced him to 150 days in jail or time served and placed him on 12 months of probation. Hatto was denied bail on May 29 and has a prior criminal record.
He pleaded guilty to flight from police, driving while prohibited and possession of a stolen motorcycle in connection with an incident on May 28 on Beardsley Road in Lower Woodstock. The Crown withdrew another charge of resisting arrest.
The court heard Hatto fled on the motorcycle down a railroad track and then tried to escape on foot when police caught up with him. He was carrying a backpack, which was seized by police at the scene.
Seven new drug trafficking charges were laid against Hatto during his court appearance on Thursday. He was charged with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, ecstasy, heroine, OxyContin, hydromorphone, and methylphenidate for the purpose of trafficking on May 28 in Lower Woodstock.
Hatto was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Moncton and returns to court for plea on those charges on Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Benton man awaiting plea
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 4 to answer a series of charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea and to set a date for a bail hearing.
Hayes was charged with obstructing police following an incident on Aug. 15 near Meductic when a male suspect jumped into Eel River and was captured and taken into custody.
He was also charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14 in Benton. On Aug. 18, Hayes waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail.
On July 25, police were patrolling in the Benton area when they came across a male individual driving an ATV with no helmet. The driver was identified as Hayes, who was subject to several conditions, including a prohibition against driving and the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, which he allegedly cut off.
Police reported that Hayes rammed a police vehicle with his ATV when officers tried to stop him and then fled the scene.
A short time later, police observed Hayes driving his ATV through the parking lot of the RCMP detachment in Woodstock and across the front lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse. Both properties sustained minor damage.
Agrees to peace bond
Travis Wade Johnston, 38, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Sept. 3 after pleading not guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial did not proceed.
Johnston was charged with two counts of uttering threats, assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, committing mischief by removing data from a cell phone, and criminal harassment concerning a series of incidents that took place in Woodstock between Sept. 1-30, 2023, on Feb. 17 and Jan. 31, 2024, and between Aug. 1, 2023 and March 12, 2024.
The peace bond will result in the assault charge being withdrawn, and the remaining charges were stayed.
Johnston was released on an undertaking until his trial. He was also charged with two counts of breaching a no-contact order for alleged incidents on March 25 and April 2, 2024, in Woodstock. Those two charges were withdrawn by the Crown when Johnston appeared in provincial court on Aug. 28.
$1,300 fine and probation
Tyler Tibbits, 30, of Richmond Corner, appeared for trial in provincial court on Sept. 5 and changed his plea to guilty on one firearm charge laid by the RCMP. He was fined $1,300 and was placed on probation for 12 months.
Tibbits pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence in connection with an incident on Dec. 23, 2023, at Mapledale. The Crown withdrew two other charges of pointing a gun at another person.
Tibbits was ordered to have no contact with three complainants. The firearm was forfeited to the Crown. He had no prior criminal record.
Charged with impaired
Keith Shawn Greer, 61, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
Woodstock Police charged Greer in connection with an incident on April 20 in Woodstock. He was represented during two earlier court appearances by Defence Counsel Peter Crocco.
Returning for plea
Damion Andrew Rideout, 25, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
Woodstock Police charged Rideout concerning an incident on April 11 in Woodstock. He made his first court appearance on Sept. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Kilburn man charged
Colby Bell, 20, of Kilburn, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
The RCMP charged Bell following an incident on April 24 at Aroostook. He made his first court appearance on Sept. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Possession of child pornography
Corey Dean Bartlett, 56, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Sept. 4. He waived his bail until later and remains in custody to await his trial.
Bartlett was charged by the RCMP with possession of child pornography in connection with an incident on February 7, 2017, at Tobique Narrows. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was scheduled for Nov. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
In custody awaiting plea
Ronald Dwayne Scott, 30, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 4 to answer charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Scott was charged by Woodstock Police with assault, committing mischief, and three counts of uttering threats following an alleged altercation on Aug. 8. He appeared in custody by video for a bail hearing on Aug. 11 and waived his bail.
Guilty pleas expected
An Upper Woodstock man is expected to plead guilty to at least six of 11 charges related to a road rage incident on May 27 at the intersection of Main Street and Deakin Drive.
Wyatt Mark Belyea, 28, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 4 for a monitoring hearing. The matter was adjourned for plea until Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Defence Counsel Bronwyn Mooney told the court Belyea intends to plead guilty to at least six charges, but more time was needed to reach a full resolution with the Crown on the rest.
Belyea had trial dates set for Nov. 17 and Nov. 28 at 9:30 a.m. Those dates will be vacated once all matters are resolved.
Woodstock Police charged Belyea with uttering threats, pointing a firearm at another person, driving while prohibited, carelessly transporting a firearm, possession of a gun (a SKS semi-automatic rifle) without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, failing to surrender a firearm licence when required, assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from police, and refusing a breathalyzer demand.
Belyea appeared in court in custody via teleconference on May 28 and waived his bail until later. Following his arrest, a long-barreled rifle with an attached bayonet was located and seized from a pickup truck. He has a prior criminal record.
Trial adjourned on two charges
Cindy Demerchant, 53, of Lower Kintore, appeared for trial in provincial court on Sept. 3 after pleading not guilty to two charges related to a break-in at the local Tim Hortons. The trial was adjourned until Dec. 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged by the RCMP with break and enter and theft of food and money from Tim Hortons in Perth-Andover on May 9, 2024.
Resolution sought on 12 files
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on Sept. 5 for a plea and a monitoring hearing regarding 12 files. The matter was adjourned until her first trial date on Sept. 29 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard that a resolution is still being sought with the Crown.
Phillips 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.
Phillips was charged with breaching her release order (ankle bracelet) and breaking into a dwelling house on July 8 in Upper Woodstock. She has not yet entered a plea.
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, at Jacksonville.
Woodstock Police also charged her with flight from police and driving while suspended on Feb. 6, 2024, as well as 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. Her trial was scheduled for Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
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.
Arrest warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Olivia Annette Young, 32, of Woodstock, after she failed to appear in provincial court on Sept. 5 to set a new trial date.
Young was charged with flight from police and dangerous driving concerning an incident on Sept. 13, 2024, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty. She is also awaiting trial in relation to a charge of breaching her curfew.
Young also has another trial on July 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to fleeing police on Aug. 17, 2024, in Woodstock.
Sentence pending in October
Mitchell Hillman, 36, of Wilmot, will appear in provincial court for sentencing on Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. on a theft charge and for monitoring on several other charges still pending. He made a court appearance via teleconference on Sept. 5.
Hillman was charged with breaking and entering, but pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of theft of copper wire in connection with a break-in at the tourism building at Richmond Corner on Feb. 19, 2024.
A co-accused, Michael Holt, 68, of Riverglade, pleaded not guilty and will stand trial on Dec. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in relation to the same incident.
Hillman is also awaiting trial on Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to assault involving a female victim and uttering threats on Sept. 16, 2024, in Woodstock.
He was also charged with dangerous driving, flight from police and obstruction for an incident on March 13 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date will be set at his next court appearance on Oct. 6.
Hillman was also charged with driving while prohibited on Feb. 12, 2024, in Woodstock and mischief causing property damage to a truck on Feb. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. His trial was set for Sept. 5, but he did not appear, and the matter was adjourned to Oct. 6.
