Hayes launches verbal tirade after being denied bail
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, of Benton, launched into a verbal tirade in provincial court on Nov. 6 when he heard he was being denied bail on 20 charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
Hayes appeared in court in custody via video for his bail hearing and went on a lengthy rant for several minutes, which included cursing and loud insults.
Judge Henrik Tonning remanded the accused and ordered Hayes to return to court in custody for plea on Nov. 27 at 9:30 a.m.
As the hearing concluded, Edward Hayes, Sr., stood in court and also began to yell and point his finger in defence of his son. Sheriffs ushered the father of the accused from the courtroom.
Edward Hayes Jr. was charged by Woodstock Police with dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, uttering threats, and breach of a release order (ankle bracelet) concerning an incident on July 25 in Woodstock.
More charges were laid for incidents on July 25 including two counts of breach of a release order (house arrest), flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, mischief causing damage to a police vehicle in Benton; flight from police and dangerous driving on July 25 at Teeds Mill; and criminal harassment through text messages on June 22 at Bairdsville.
RCMP also charged him with obstructing police following an incident on Aug. 15 near Meductic when a male suspect jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody.
Hayes was also charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14 in Benton and theft of gas on Aug. 14 in Debec. On Aug. 18, Hayes waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail. He has a lengthy prior criminal record.
On July 25, police were patrolling the Benton area when they encountered a male individual driving an ATV without a 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.
Released to await sentencing
Austin Powers, 26, of Beaconsfield, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Nov. 6 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by the RCMP. He was released with conditions to await his sentencing on Feb. 3, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
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.
He pleaded guilty to both counts of breaching a recognizance, resisting arrest and uttering threats to police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on the assault charges. The Crown will withdraw the remaining charges. A sentence of time served is expected for the accused.
Returning for plea
Earl James Demerchant, 34, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video for a bail hearing on Nov. 6 on two charges laid by the Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged with causing a disturbance in a public place and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Nov. 5 at Tim Hortons in Woodstock.
Trial set in alleged assault
Taranjeet Singh, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Nov. 5 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Dec. 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Singh appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Oct. 10 and was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He 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 three complainants.
Released with ankle bracelet
Cameron James Clark, 25, of Mapledale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 6 for a bail hearing after being arrested for breaching his release order (ankle bracelet). He was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing another electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Clark returns to court for plea on Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Clark was charged by RCMP with breach of probation, resisting arrest, uttering threats, stalking a female victim, breaking into at a dwelling house, assault with a weapon, assaulting another man, and mischief causing property damage to a door on Sept. 17 at Mapledale; stalking a female victim, dangerous driving and breach of probation on Sept. 19 in Mapledale; and breaching a release order on Oct. 21 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
Facing two charges
Benjamin Richardson, 34, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by the RCMP.
Richardson was charged with uttering threats and assault concerning an incident on Sept. 9 in Lower Brighton. He was scheduled for his first court appearance on Nov. 4 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date.
Plea adjourned
Jesse Hallett, 36, of Lansdowne, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 25 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Hallett was charged with assault and breaching an undertaking in connection with an incident between Aug. 26 and Aug. 27 in Lansdowne. He appeared in court on Nov. 4 when the matter was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
Released on undertaking
Allison Drier, 47, of Carlow, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by the RCMP.
Drier was charged with two counts of uttering threats and mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle following an incident on Aug. 2 at Carlow. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 4 and was released on an undertaking until his next court date.
No contact with complainant
Joseph Foster, 35, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by RCMP.
Foster was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, and uttering threats stemming from an incident on Sept. 23 in Upper Woodstock. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 4 and was released on an undertaking and ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Facing assault charge
Robin Sappier, 47, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge laid by RCMP.
Sappier was charged with assaulting a male victim on Aug. 28 at Neqotkuk. She made her first court appearance on Nov. 4 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Refusing a breathalyzer
Daljit Singh, 26, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Singh was charged with refusing a breathalyzer and driving without insurance following an incident in Woodstock. He was scheduled to answer the charge on Nov. 4 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
In custody awaiting trial
Kyrin Moulton, 20, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 6 for a monitoring hearing after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date has been set for Feb. 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
On Thursday, the court heard that a resolution is being sought with the Crown. Another monitoring date was scheduled for Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Moulton was charged with breach of probation and possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) on Sept. 17 at Perth-Andover; uttering threats against another man and breach of probation on Sept. 8 in Perth-Andover; and unlawful entry at a dwelling house on Sept. 25 in Perth-Andover.
Bail hearing rescheduled
Brodey O’Donnell, 22, of Campbell Settlement, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 6 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until Nov. 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
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 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 and charged with failing to attend court in Woodstock.
On Oct. 30, a new charge of breaching his release order (curfew) was laid by the RCMP for an incident on Sept. 26 at Campbell Settlement.
Three await sentencing in kidnapping
Sheena Sappier, 36, Keegan Paul, 32, and Ashley Paul, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Nov. 5 after changing their plea to guilty for their role in a kidnapping in the community in April 2024.
After hearing submissions from both the crown and defence counsel, Judge Scott Brittain reserved his decision on sentence for all three accused until Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Keagan 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.
Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver recommended a sentence of two years of house arrest and 12 months of probation for Paul, noting that he had spent 45 days in remand, cooperated with the police during the investigation, and provided evidence during the trial of co-accused Troy Pelkey. The Crown said he must also register with the federal DNA database.
Defence Counsel T.J. Burke said Paul has been on an ankle bracelet since his arrest last year and has been undergoing counselling and treatment for drug addiction. He had no prior criminal record and has been sober since his release from custody.
“There’s nothing I can do or say to take back what happened,” Paul told the court. All I can do is ask for forgiveness and try to move forward from there.”
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.
The Crown recommended Sappier spend one year under house arrest and pay $493 in restitution for transactions made on the victim’s credit card taken from her purse on the night of the kidnapping. Sappier must also register with the federal DNA database. Her house arrest would include a six-month curfew.
Sappier has a dated prior criminal record and has been wearing an ankle monitor since her arrest last year. She spent 37 days in remand. The court heard that she also cooperated with the police during the investigation and provided evidence during the trial for co-accused Troy Pelkey.
Defence Counsel Valerie Daigle said Sappier struggled with addiction but has been sober since her arrest last year and has been striving to turn her life around. She expressed remorse for her part in the crime.
“I pray for her (the victim),” Sappier said.
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.
The Crown requested that Paul be sentenced to one or two years in jail for her role in the kidnapping and another eight months in custody for the assault and break-in, followed by one year of probation. The court heard she spent 111 days in remand and has been undergoing counselling and treatment for addiction. She must also register with the federal DNA database and continue counselling for addiction.
Paul said she was plagued by guilt for her part in the kidnapping, noting the victim was once her friend. She apologized to the court for her actions.
“I was in the wrong place at the wrong time due to addiction,” she told the court. “I was in a really dark place.”
Troy Pelkey, 56, of Tilley, the alleged ringleader in the kidnapping, remains in custody to await a verdict after his trial. He 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.
Three other men from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) involved in the kidnapping 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.
