Benton man discovers fate on May 20
Sentencing takes place Wednesday for a Benton man, who led police on a wild chase and days later jumped into the Eel River.
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, will appear in provincial court in custody for sentencing on May 20 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on a lengthy list of charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. A lengthy jail sentence is expected.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He has been in custody since his arrest last August and has a prior criminal record.
He pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his house arrest, dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle by ramming it during incidents in Benton and Teeds Mill on July 25, 2025.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, and uttering threats on July 25, 2025, in Woodstock. A breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
The court heard how Hayes fled Benton on a stolen ATV and led police on a wild chase through Woodstock. He drove over the lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse before heading to the RCMP detachment on Connell Street, where he drove over the lawn and spun the ATV around in the parking lot. He drove off again, uttering threats to construction workers behind the Sobeys Store before making his escape. Days later, he was involved in three more incidents.
Hayes was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14, 2025, in Benton and theft of gas on Aug. 14, 2025, at the Debec Store. He pleaded guilty to stealing the gas and agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond for the assault and threats. The Crown withdrew the remaining charge.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to obstructing police following a bizarre incident on Aug. 15, 2025, near Meductic when he jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody. The court heard that a police helicopter and boat were called to the scene. Hayes refused to surrender to the police and would not take a life jacket. He swam back to shore after spending 45 minutes in the water and was arrested.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to another charge of assault, transferred from Edmundston. The court heard Hayes assaulted a correctional officer at the jail on Feb. 12, 2025, by pushing him and kicking him in the chest. The officer was knocked down a stairway, but another staff member caught him and broke his fall.
In custody awaiting sentencing
Nicholas Hamilton, 31, of Richmond Corner, will appear in provincial court in custody for sentencing on June 9 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to six charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was scheduled for May 19, but was adjourned to allow completion of a pre-sentence report.
Hamilton pleaded guilty to flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, possession of a firearm without a licence (a shotgun and rifle), driving while suspended, and transporting firearms in a careless manner. Another firearm charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
The charges were laid following a police chase on Jan. 13 in Lindsay, during which a spike belt was used to stop a speeding half-ton truck. Hamilton was denied bail on Jan. 15.
Released with conditions
Marshall Turner, 25, of Beaconsfield, appeared in provincial court in custody on May 15 for a bail hearing on five charges laid by the RCMP. He was released from custody with conditions and returns to court for plea on June 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Turner was charged on May 7 at Wilmot with two counts of breaching a release order and breach of probation, and on April 8 at Wilmot with breaching a release order and breach of probation.
He also appeared in provincial court on March 24 and pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were set for April 21-22, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Turner pleaded not guilty to breaching his release order (ankle bracelet) on Feb. 16 in Wilmot; driving while prohibited on Oct. 29, 2025, at Lakeville; possession of a stolen utility trailer, driving while prohibited and breaking into a barn on Nov. 17, 2025, at Meductic. He has a prior criminal record.
Fined for impaired
Karen Irene Davenport, 44, of Jackson Falls, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on May 19 after pleading guilty to an impaired driving charge. She was fined $3,250 and was prohibited from driving for 12 months.
Davenport was charged by Woodstock Police with an incident near McDonalds on March 20, 2025. The court heard her blood alcohol reading was three times the legal limit. She had no prior criminal record.
Conditional sentence and fine
Ryan Michael Fitzherbert, 33, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on May 19 on two charges laid by the RCMP and Woodstock Police.
Fitzherbert pleaded guilty to taking a vehicle without consent for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, in Pembroke. The court heard the truck involved was reported stolen in Fredericton.
He was handed a five-month conditional sentence order for that offence, including three months of house arrest and two months of following a curfew. He was also placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to seek counselling for drug addiction.
Fitzherbert was also fined $140 for trespassing at the Canadian Tire in Woodstock when he was ordered to stay away from the store. He had a prior criminal record.
Returning for plea
Jordan Hill, 21, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court on May 19 for plea on five charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until June 2 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Hill appeared in provincial court in custody via video on April 9 for a bail hearing and was released on conditions. He was charged with two counts of uttering threats, breach of a no-contact order, committing arson at a residence and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on April 1 at Greenfield.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 13 on other charges and was released with conditions.
Hill was charged by the RCMP with assaulting a woman between Feb. 5 and March 12; assaulting the same woman, breaching a no-contact order, and taking a vehicle without consent on March 12 in Greenfield.
Hill is also awaiting trial on other charges of assault, assault with a weapon (a ruler), breaking into a dwelling house, and committing mischief stemming from an incident on March 13, 2025, in Juniper.
Trial date set
Thompson Graham Lloyd of Canterbury appeared in provincial court on May 19 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was set for July 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Lloyd was charged with flight from police and resisting arrest concerning an incident which occurred between Jan. 20 and 21 in Canterbury.
Trial for assault
Olivia Crain, 20, of Oakland, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 16, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Crain was charged with assault in connection with an incident on Jan. 4 in Oakland. Her legal counsel entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf on May 19.
Dead Creek man awaiting trial
Bradley Collicott, 51, of Dead Creek, appeared in provincial court on May 19 for a monitoring hearing about his upcoming trial. He told the court he was awaiting appointment of legal counsel, so another monitoring hearing was scheduled for June 2 at 9:30 a.m.
At an earlier court appearance, Collicott pleaded not guilty to an assault charge and his trial was scheduled for June 15 at 1:30 p.m. He was charged by the RCMP with assault involving a female victim following an incident on Nov. 3, 2024, at Dead Creek.
Not-guilty plea
Joseph Foster, 35, of Upper Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on May 19 for a monitoring hearing about his trial. He pleaded not guilty to three charges laid by the RCMP, and his trial was confirmed for Feb. 1, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Foster was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, and uttering threats stemming from an incident on Sept. 23, 2025, in Upper Woodstock.
Charged with assault
Robert McCormick, 65, of Hartland, will appear in provincial court on June 8 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.
McCormick was charged by the RCMP in connection with an incident on Jan. 15 at Hartland. He was scheduled for plea on May 19, when the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow for a possible resolution with the Crown.
Awaiting a verdict
Kevin Smith, 48, of Hartley Settlement, will appear in provincial court on June 18 at 9:30 a.m. for a verdict following his trial on three charges laid by the RCMP. Testimony at the trial wrapped up on May 15.
Smith pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and uttering threats concerning an incident on July 22, 2025, at Juniper.
Plea adjourned
Jaden Joseph Stanley Dickison, 21, of Nackawic, appeared in provincial court on May 19 to answer charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until June 16 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Dickison was charged with flight from police, dangerous driving, driving while prohibited, and breach of probation for an incident on March 19 in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 23 for a bail hearing and was released on conditions, including house arrest and the wearing of an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was also prohibited from driving. Dickison has a prior criminal record.
He was also charged with flight from police and driving while prohibited for another incident on Dec. 16, 2025, in Woodstock.
Trial on two charges
Benjamin Ian Watson, 40, of Jackson Falls, appeared in provincial court on May 19 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial was booked for July 15, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Watson was charged with assault involving a female victim and breach of a peace bond in connection with an incident on March 17 in Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody via teleconference and was released with conditions.
Group charged in same incident
Three men from Upper Kent have been charged in the same incident involving an alleged altercation with another man.
Everett Hartley, 42, Dawson Grant, 18, and Connor Grant, 20, were charged by the RCMP following an incident on Nov. 30, 2025, at Upper Kent.
Hartley was charged with assault and mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for May 20, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Connor Grant was charged with assault, possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence (a baseball bat), and mischief causing property damage to a vehicle. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for July 22, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Dawson Grant was charged with mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for June 17-18, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Facing more charges
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, appeared in provincial court on May 19 and pleaded not guilty to six more charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for July 12, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring hearing was also set for March 16, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
He pleaded not guilty to breaching a no-contact order, uttering threats, assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon (a broom and a board), assault by choking and mischief causing property damage to a cell phone on Oct. 28, 2025, at Lower Brighton.
Brooks appeared in provincial court on Jan. 6 for a monitoring hearing about his multiple trials on 20 other charges. He pleaded not guilty, and trial dates were set for June 24 at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 20 at 9:30 a.m., and Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Brooks was charged by RCMP 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, 2025, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5, 2025, in Hartland, and on Feb. 19, 2025, in Woodstock.
