Former support worker defrauded clients at group home
A former support worker at a group home in Woodstock may be facing jail time for defrauding three special-needs clients.
Sherry Lynn Williams, 61, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on June 2 after pleading guilty to three charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Williams was charged with three counts of theft and three counts of fraud stemming from three separate incidents in Woodstock between Feb. 19, 2019, and June 7, 2019; between March 6, 2019, and April 22, 2019; and between Jan. 13, 2017, and June 5, 2019.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud under $5,000 and one count of fraud over $5,000. The three theft charges were withdrawn by the Crown. The victims were special needs adults, all female clients with the Community Residential Living Board, who were living at a group home on Richmond Street in Woodstock.
“I’m sorry for what I did to you,” Williams said to one victim in court on Tuesday. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“It’s alright, I forgive you,” Patty Connors responded.
After hearing submissions from both the Crown and defence counsel, Judge Rose Campbell reserved her decision on sentence until July 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Crown Prosecutor Frederique Bossé recommended Williams serve nine months in jail, followed by 12 months of probation. The Crown also requested a restitution order requiring Williams to repay the $23,000 she stole from her clients over two years. The accused had no prior criminal record.
Bossé said Williams was employed as a support worker at the group home for 29 years and was in a position of trust when she used the bank cards of three female special needs clients to pay her own bills and make personal transactions.
She committed the thefts for a few years before other staff discovered discrepancies on some bank statements. The Crown said the bank statements identified went back two years. Williams admitted taking the money due to a gambling addiction. She was employed by the province to provide services to residents of the group home and was entrusted with their bank cards to help meet their needs.
Defence Counsel Lindsay Paul asked for house arrest, arguing Williams is now seriously ill and remains remorseful for her actions brought on by gambling. She said that as her client’s life began to unravel from addiction, Williams kept quiet about the thefts, never knowing the total amount stolen until she was charged by police. Williams left her job at the group home in 2019 due to illness and has been living on disability benefits.
“She was in the grips of addiction, but stopped with her diagnosis,” Paul said. “She continues to receive treatment for cancer. There has been no gambling for the past seven years, and she was surprised by the amount she took.”
The court heard Williams stole $19,970 from a non-verbal client between 2017 and 2019, while the other two victims each lost $1,757 and $1,065 in 2019. Williams was also ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
20 months in jail, minus time served
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, was sentenced to 20 months in jail, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on June 1. He changed his plea to guilty on multiple charges and will have one year left to serve once his 218 days in remand are applied.
Stewart was charged by Woodstock Police with breaching his release order stemming from incidents on Dec. 4, and Dec. 7, 2025, in Woodstock. He was denied bail and remanded. On March 12, he pleaded guilty.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police and breaching his curfew on Dec. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order on Jan. 13, 2025, in Woodstock. The charges were laid by Woodstock Police.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) in connection with incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2024, in Woodstock. He was charged by the RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25, 2024, in Killoween, and with possession of a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He pleaded guilty on March 12.
120 days or time served
Jason Tribe, 41, of Knoxford, was sentenced to 120 days in jail, or time served, when he appeared in provincial court on June 1 after pleading guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. He was also placed on 12 months of probation.
Tribe pleaded guilty to criminal harassment and breach of a no-contact order between Jan. 13 and Jan. 18 at Knoxford. The RCMP laid the charges. Another charge of uttering threats was withdrawn by the Crown.
Tribe appeared in provincial court in custody on May 1 and was released with conditions to await his sentencing. He was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Jan. 29. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Sentencing and peace bond
Riley Patrick Michaud, 22, of Woodstock, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on one charge laid by Woodstock Police. He was scheduled for sentencing on June 1 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Michaud pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order involving a female complainant in connection with an incident on Oct. 2, 2024, in Woodstock.
He was also charged with assault involving a female victim in connection with another incident on Aug. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on the assault charge. The peace bond results in that charge being withdrawn.
Charges withdrawn
On June 2, the Crown withdrew charges laid against Ethan Shaw, 33, of Perth-Andover.
Shaw was charged by RCMP with fraud and forgery in connection with incidents between Jan. 1, 2022, and Jan. 19, 2024, at Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty and was scheduled for trial in November.
Lincoln woman charged
Emily Grace Meadows, 24, of Lincoln, will appear in provincial court on June 23 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Meadows was charged with impaired driving and refusing a breathalyzer demand. She was scheduled for plea on June 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Not-guilty plea
Morgan Clark, 24, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 5, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Clark was charged with forcible entry and mischief causing property damage on Sept. 22, 2025, in Upper Woodstock. Her not-guilty plea was entered by Defence Counsel Peter Crocco on June 2.
Charged with impaired
Paul Arthur Crabbe, 62, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on June 21, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Crabbe was charged following an incident on Dec. 10, 2025, in Woodstock. Defence Counsel Peter Crocco entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf on June 2.
Trial in August
Jordan Hill, 21, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court for monitoring on June 2 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. His trial was scheduled for Jan. 21, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Another monitoring hearing was set for Aug. 11 to confirm he will have legal counsel to proceed.
Hill appeared in provincial court via video in custody on April 9 for a bail hearing and was released with 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 via teleconference in custody on March 13 on other charges and was released with conditions.
Hill was charged by 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 was also charged with 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.
Dead Creek man awaiting trial
Bradley Collicott, 51, of Dead Creek, appeared in provincial court on June 2 for a monitoring hearing about his upcoming trial. He told the court he was waiting to secure legal counsel, so another monitoring hearing was scheduled for June 9 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 RCMP with assault involving a female victim following an incident on Nov. 3, 2024, at Dead Creek.
Returning for plea
Ryan Woodward, 42, of Hartland, will appear in provincial court on June 23 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
Woodward was charged with breaking into a dwelling house t on Jan. 31 in Hartland. He appeared in court on June 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Woodward also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 24 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by local police. Trial dates were scheduled for May 25 at 9:30 a.m., June 20 at 9:30 a.m. and March 3, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Woodward was charged with three counts of driving while suspended on Aug. 21 and Aug. 23, 2025, at Wakefield and on Sept. 3, 2025, in Woodstock. He was also charged with dangerous driving and flight from police on Sept. 3, 2025.
Trial in August
Cole Wade Gray, 24, of Upper Kintore, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP.
He appeared in court on June 2 for a monitoring hearing and returns on June 23 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed to trial.
Gray pleaded not guilty to theft of lumber between July 21, 2023, and July 23, 2023, in Johnville. Another charge of unlawful entry at a dwelling house was withdrawn by the Crown. He also pleaded not guilty to breaching curfew and breaching a release order between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, 2023, at Aroostook.
Gray also pleaded not guilty to two counts of mischief and uttering threats concerning an incident on March 18, 2025, at Lower Kintore. He was released on an undertaking until his trial on Aug. 21.
Counsel confirmed
Marlon Scott, 43, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on June 2 and confirmed he has legal counsel to proceed to trial in the fall.
Scott pleaded not guilty to a threat charge, and his trial was scheduled for Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged by RCMP with uttering threats in connection with an incident on April 28 at Centreville.
Trial scheduled
Jordan Alexander White-Pickard, 28, of Holmesville, appeared in provincial court on June 2 for a monitoring hearing and confirmed he has legal counsel to proceed to trial next month.
White-Pickard pleaded not guilty to a threat charge laid by Woodstock Police. His trial was set for July 22 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with uttering threats following an incident on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock.
Tobique Narrows man to stand trial
John Hogarth, 47, of Tobique Narrows, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by RCMP. On June 2, legal counsel was confirmed for his trial. He did not appear in court, so a warrant was held on file.
Hogarth was charged with assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on April 5, 2025, at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). He was released on an undertaking until his trial.
