Verdict in kidnapping trial set for December
A Tilley man will appear in provincial court in custody in December for a verdict following his trial related to a violent kidnapping in Victoria County last year.
Troy Pelkey, 56, 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 (Tobique First Nation).
His trial was held before Judge Anne Marie Richard and concluded with closing arguments on Oct. 6. Judge Richard reserved her decision until Dec. 12 at 2:30 p.m. Pelkey remains in custody.
During the trial, the court heard Pelkey was allegedly the ringleader in a group of seven individuals who acted like a gang in the kidnapping. Three other men from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) were each sentenced to federal prison on Oct. 3.
Jacob Perley, 35, Adam Perley, 34, and Preston Sockabasin, 29, appeared in provincial court in custody. They pleaded guilty to multiple offences.
Jacob Perley was handed a six-year prison sentence, minus 310 days for time served. Adam Perley was sentenced to three years in prison, minus 771 days for time served. Preston Sockabasin was sentenced to four years in prison, minus 315 days for time served.
The court heard their violent actions were premeditated, fuelled by drugs, and motivated by financial gain because Pelkey allegedly offered a bounty 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.
As Pelkey’s trial concluded, Defence Counsel Annie Maltais argued that testimony for the Crown was unreliable because the other co-accused and the victim were under the influence of drugs when the incident occurred.
Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver contended the trauma endured by the victim was not something anyone could forget, and other witnesses corroborated details of her testimony. Weaver claimed that Pelkey was the person with a credibility issue, as he had made a phone call from jail to his former partner, asking her to provide an alibi and claim he was home with her on the night of the incident.
Three more co-accused are still awaiting sentencing. 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 were released until their sentencing on Nov. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Charges pile up for guns and drugs
Kurtis Stenger, 33, of Fredericton, Samuel Robert Crewe, 31, and Timothy Brian Wheelan, 37, both of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 to answer multiple gun charges and drug trafficking charges laid by the RCMP. All matters were adjourned for plea until Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe appeared in custody by video, while Stenger and Wheelan were present in court. The three men were each charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine, both for the purpose of trafficking, in connection with incidents between June 1 and June 13 in Jacksonville.
Stenger also faces 14 firearm charges in relation to the June 13 incident. Crewe has 13 firearm charges for the same incident and faces another charge of breaching a release order on March 6 in Woodstock. Wheelan has 48 gun charges from the June 13 incident, as well as three other separate charges for uttering threats on March 17, April 10, and Aug. 12, breach of a peace bond, and breach of a release order on Sept. 21.
Crewe was denied bail on July 24 on other separate charges. He was charged by the Woodstock Police with being at large on a release order, having violated his house arrest, stemming from an incident on June 24 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was rescheduled for Jan. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
He also faces additional charges of possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine, both for the purpose of trafficking, on March 19 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Jan. 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was booked for Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
A co-accused, Kaylee Melinda Smith, has also been charged with drug trafficking and two counts of identity theft concerning the same incident on March 19 in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was also set for Jan. 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was booked for Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe also appeared in provincial court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by Woodstock Police, including flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of a release order on May 6 in Woodstock. His trial date was rescheduled for Jan. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
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.
Crewe was charged by the RCMP with possession of methamphetamine, flight from police, dangerous driving and driving while prohibited in connection with a single vehicle accident in Kirkland on Jan. 4. He has a prior criminal record.
Suspended sentence, probation
Justin Ryan Shea, 36, of Woodstock, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Oct. 7. He pleaded guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Shea was charged with break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26, 2024, and breaching an undertaking (curfew) on Aug. 14. He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of possession of stolen property and also pleaded guilty to the curfew breach. He had a dated prior criminal record.
Shea also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 4 and pleaded not guilty to two drug trafficking charges. His trial was scheduled for Jan. 26 and Jan. 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Shea was charged by Woodstock Police with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents in Woodstock on June 30 and May 2, 2024.
Shea was also charged with mischief, causing property damage, and break, enter and theft at the East Coast Truck Wash for an incident on March 17, 2024, in Lower Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for Jan. 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was scheduled for Oct. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
Facing six charges
Austin Francis, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to answer six charges laid by the RCMP.
Francis was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, assault with a weapon, careless use of a firearm, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of a firearm without a licence concerning an incident on July 5 at Neqotkuk. He made his first court appearance on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Warrant issued
The court issued a warrant for Timothy Maurice Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, after he failed to appear in provincial court for a monitoring hearing on Oct. 7.
Thibodeau appeared in provincial court on Feb. 4 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. He was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, uttering threats on Sept. 4, 2023, at Hartland, and failing to appear in court on Oct. 24, 2024. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4, 2024, and was released with conditions.
He will stand trial on the drug charge on Jan. 15-16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. His trial on the remaining two charges was set for Jan. 14, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Another monitoring date was also scheduled for Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Missed sentencing hearing
The court issued a warrant for Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, after he failed to appear in provincial court for his sentencing hearing on Oct. 7. He pleaded guilty in June to two charges laid by the RCMP.
Hargrove pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm to another man and possession of a stolen ATV for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent.
Bail hearing scheduled
Brodey O’Donnell, 22, of Campbell Settlement, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 7. A date for his bail hearing was set for Oct. 14 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Donnell was charged with assaulting police, uttering threats, and resisting arrest for an incident on July 17 at Campbell Settlement.
He appeared in provincial court in custody in Woodstock on Aug. 19 after being arrested on a warrant on charges in Edmundston. He was later released with conditions.
O’Donnell also appeared in provincial court via video for a bail hearing in Woodstock on July 28 and was released. He was recently taken back into custody.
In custody after knife incident
Taranjeet Singh, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 7 for plea and to set a date for his bail hearing. His plea was adjourned until after his bail hearing on Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Singh was charged by Woodstock Police with assault with a weapon (a knife) and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Sept. 6 and another alleged assault on Sept. 7 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
Conditional discharge, probation
Ashley Dawn Giberson, 33, of Woodstock, received a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation when she appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Oct. 7. She pleaded guilty to two charges laid by the Woodstock Police.
Giberson pleaded guilty to breaching a release order by failing to follow a curfew and reside at a designated residence on Sept. 1, 2023, in Woodstock. She also pleaded guilty to shoplifting at the Canadian Tire in Woodstock on Feb. 5, 2024. The Crown withdrew three other breach charges. She had a dated prior criminal record.
Trial set for assault
Noah Saulis, 24, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial on one charge laid by the RCMP.
Saulis was charged with assaulting another man on June 20 at Perth-Andover. He entered his not-guilty plea at his first court appearance on Oct. 7.
Impaired driving charge
Karen Irene Davenport, 44, of Jackson Falls, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
The Woodstock Police charged Davenport in connection with an incident that occurred on March 20 in Woodstock. She made her first court appearance on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Stolen vehicle allegation
Brandon Hamilton, 36, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Hamilton was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and driving while suspended. He made his first court appearance on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charges laid in fatal accident
Casey Feuser, 37, of Sussex, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 to answer four charges related to a fatal accident that killed two people on the Trans Canada Highway outside Woodstock last year.
RCMP charged Feuser with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident on Sept. 26, 2024, near Hay Settlement. His plea was adjourned until Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Two male passengers from Sussex died as a result of the single-vehicle accident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. The vehicle was travelling eastbound on the highway when it lost control and went into a ditch.
Suspended sentence, probation and fine
Mitchell Hillman, 36, of Wilmot, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Oct. 6.
Hillman was charged by the RCMP 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 also pleaded guilty to driving while prohibited on Feb. 12, 2024, in Woodstock and was fined $1,000. The Crown withdrew a second charge.
He 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.
Hillman 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 was set for July 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Fredericton man to enter plea
Chad Parker, 34, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
Woodstock Police charged Parker following an incident on April 25 in Woodstock. He made his first court appearance on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Awaiting plea for assault
Katlyn Levesque, 30, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 to answer an assault charge. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Levesque was charged with assault involving a male victim in connection with an incident on March 9 at Plaster Rock.
Plea on multiple charges
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on 20 charges laid by the RCMP.
He appeared in court on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow him more time to consult his lawyer.
Brooks appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on June 19 and was released from custody with conditions (ankle bracelet). He was later arrested on a warrant for failing to appear and then released until his next court appearance.
Brooks was charged with five counts of assault involving a female victim, four counts of assault by choking, three counts of unlawful confinement, two counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a phone cord), assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, mischief causing damage to a cell phone, and two counts of breaching a release order (no contact).
The charges were laid in connection with a series of incidents on Nov. 24, 2024, Feb. 12, Feb. 17, May 28, June 9, June 10, and June 11, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5 in Hartland, and on Feb. 19 in Woodstock. He was arrested and taken into custody on June 12.
Agreed to peace bond
Peti Augustino Peti, 33, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 for plea on a threat charge. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the matter did not proceed.
RCMP charged Peti with uttering threats involving a female victim. The peace bond will result in the charge being withdrawn.
Not-guilty plea on all counts
Jesse Demerchant, 33, of Scott Siding, will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 12, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. Defence Counsel Alex Carleton entered not-guilty pleas on his behalf at a court appearance on Oct. 7.
Demerchant was charged with breaching a no-contact order and resisting arrest on May 29 at Windsor, and assault, assault with a weapon, and assault by choking involving a female victim on May 14 at Windsor. He appeared in provincial court in custody via video on June 2 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, then later entered a rehabilitation facility.
Adjourned for plea
Chandler Spittle, 22, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 to answer counterfeiting charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Spittle was charged with possession of counterfeit money (a $100 US bill) and using counterfeit money in connection with an incident on Dec. 24, 2023, at Johnson Settlement. He appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Aug. 22 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court and was released with conditions.
Trial date pending
Chad Brooker, 36, of Centreville, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial after pleading not guilty to sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Brooker was charged with sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose and invitation to sexual touching in connection with an incident between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2024, at Centreville.
He appeared in court in custody via teleconference on Aug. 8 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He was released on an undertaking. On Oct. 7, he told the court that he needed more time to consult with legal counsel for his trial.
Neqotkuk man to enter plea
Brock Vollmar, 48, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was scheduled for plea on Oct. 7, but was adjourned to the new date since Vollmar still did not have legal counsel.
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 in connection with 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. He told the court he would defend himself at trial on Nov. 27-28 on a separate fraud charge.
Trial scheduled
Michelle McMann of Perth-Andover appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. Her trial date was set for Nov. 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
McMann was charged with assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest on March 13 in Perth-Andover.
Charged with trafficking, assault
Michelle Augustine of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) will appear in provincial court on Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Augustine was charged with assaulting another woman with a weapon (a stick) on April 29, 2025, at Neqotkuk.
She was also 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.
Charged with impaired
Keith Shawn Greer, 61, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 31, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge.
The Woodstock Police charged Greer in connection with an incident that occurred on April 20 in Woodstock. Defence Counsel Peter Crocco entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf during a court appearance on Oct. 7.
Awaiting sentencing
Damion Andrew Rideout, 25, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 and pleaded guilty to an impaired driving charge laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for Nov. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The Woodstock Police charged Rideout concerning an incident that occurred on April 11 in Woodstock.
Sentence pending on multiple charges
James Blair Hovey, 28, of Perth Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 7 to set a new date for his sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
His sentencing was adjourned to allow more time for the transfer of other charges from Fredericton and Miramichi. Hovey returns to court in custody on Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm a date for his sentencing.
Hovey pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and theft of keys on Nov. 27, 2024, in New Denmark. Another charge of theft of tools was withdrawn.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen ATV, breach of probation and flight from police on March 30, 2024, at Tobique Narrows; guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and breaching his curfew on Oct. 25, 2024, at Perth Andover; guilty to flight from police, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and breaching his curfew on Nov. 27, 2024, at Plaster Rock; and guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation on Jan. 9 at Carlingford. Two other charges were withdrawn.
The court heard the Crown would be seeking a one-year jail sentence for all counts. Hovey has been in custody since his arrest in January.
Hovey was also charged by the Woodstock Police with breach of probation and break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26, 2024.
New assault charge
Courtney Demerchant, 28, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on Oct. 7 to answer a new assault charge. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged with assaulting a male victim in connection with an incident on Feb. 15 in Woodstock.
She will also appear for trial in provincial court on July 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two other assault charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2024, in Beechwood.
Failed to appear
The court issued an arrest warrant for Emily Anne Crandlemire, 30, of Windsor, after she failed to appear in provincial court on Oct. 7.
Crandlemire appeared in provincial court on Sept. 16 to set a trial date on two charges laid by the RCMP, and the matter was adjourned to the new date.
She was charged with driving while suspended and theft of gas from the Irving Station in Florenceville-Bristol on May 12, 2023. She pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance.
Glassville woman charged
Katrina Bouchard, 48, of Glassville, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Bouchard was charged with assault following an incident on April 19 at Juniper. She was scheduled to enter a plea on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Plea on four charges
Natasha Ginson, 35, of Mainstream, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on four charges laid by RCMP.
Ginson was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, uttering threats and possession of a stolen ATV stemming from an incident on May 18 at Riverbank. She appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
No contact with complainant
Casey Bernard, 27, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Oct. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a threat charge.
RCMP charged Bernard with uttering threats against a female victim in connection with an incident on July 26 at Neqotkuk. He appeared in court on Oct. 7 when the matter was adjourned to the new date. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Resolution sought
David Frank Janssens, 25, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Janssens was charged with arson and committing mischief on Oct. 25, 2023, in Woodstock.
On Oct. 7, the court heard that a resolution is still being sought with the Crown, so another adjournment was granted.
Adjourned to November
Bonnie Noel, 56, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 for monitoring on charges of failing to appear. Her matter was adjourned for plea until Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Noel appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Sept. 11 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in provincial court on March 14 and June 13. Following a bail hearing, she was released with conditions. She told the court that she had been in Ontario but had surrendered to the police upon her return.
Noel pleaded not guilty to several charges including assault, breaching an undertaking, and breaching a peace bond for an incident on Aug. 6, 2024 in Jacksonville; breach of an undertaking (no contact) on Feb. 18, 2024, at Canterbury, breach of an undertaking (no contact) and breach of curfew on April 1, 2024, at North Lake, breach of an undertaking (no contact) on Jan. 21, 2024, at North Lake; and two counts of assault, breach of an undertaking and breach of a peace bond on Aug. 6, 2024, in Canterbury.
Neqotkuk man has two charges
Aaron Barclay Moulton, 41, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 to answer two charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Moulton appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 11 and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant on charges of assault and uttering threats concerning an incident at Neqotkuk.
Trial scheduled on several charges
Timothy Canam, 45, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 7 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and Nov. 19, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Canam appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 11 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He was charged with breaching a release order on Sept. 9 in Johnville. He was also charged by the RCMP with two counts of uttering threats on June 6 at Johnville; resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and assault causing bodily harm to a police officer on June 9 in Johnville.
At an earlier court appearance, Canam was remanded into custody for a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital and was found fit to stand trial. He did not challenge the results of his medical report.
He was released with conditions (an ankle bracelet) on Aug. 22 but returned to custody after missing his court date on Sept. 9.
