Two years in prison for Woodstock man
Ronald David Whitfeld, 33, of Woodstock, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after appearing in provincial court in custody via video on Oct. 28. He changed his plea to guilty on six charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Judge Henrik Tonning also ordered Whitfeld to register with the federal DNA database and prohibited him from possessing firearms for 10 years. He must have no contact with the complainant for five years.
Whitfeld appeared in court in custody on Aug. 4 and later waived bail. He pleaded guilty to uttering threats, breaching a no-contact order, unlawful confinement, and assaulting a female victim between June 8 and Aug. 2 in Woodstock; and guilty to pointing a firearm (a pump-action shotgun) and possession of a firearm without a licence on April 8 in Woodstock. The Crown withdrew several other charges. The shotgun was forfeited to the Crown.
Judge Tonning told Whitfeld to take advantage of mental health and addiction counselling while incarcerated. The court heard the charges involved domestic violence involving a firearm. Whitfield had a prior criminal record.
Arrested and released
Brandon Tomah, 37, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Oct. 29 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court last September.
Tomah was charged with resisting arrest on Jan. 26, 2025, in Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), and theft of a motor vehicle on Jan. 29, 2025, in Perth-Andover.
Tomah pleaded not guilty to the charges and will return to court on Nov. 17 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date. He was released with conditions until his next court appearance.
Trial in December
Cassidy Guest, 33, of Grand Falls, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 29 for a hearing about his trial after pleading not guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Guest was charged by Woodstock Police with assault by choking, unlawful confinement, assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, breach of an undertaking, robbery of a cell phone, mischief causing property damage, and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), concerning an incident between Feb. 15 and Feb.16, 2025, in Woodstock.
Another hearing will be held on Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m. to resolve any further disclosure issues with the Crown. A date to continue his trial will be set after that hearing.
Trial begins on sex charge
Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fielding, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Oct. 28 after pleading not guilty to a sex charge laid by the RCMP. After one day of testimony, the trial was adjourned for continuation on Nov. 25 and Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Keefe was charged by the RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton, and failing to report his whereabouts to the national sex offender registry on Jan. 9 in Woodstock.
O’Keefe pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to appear for trial in December. He was remanded, and his sentencing was adjourned until after his trial.
Sentencing scheduled
Peter Cote, 59, of St. Thomas, appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 28 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was set for Feb. 2, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Cote pleaded guilty to uttering threats and three counts of assault for incidents in July, October and November of 2024 at St. Thomas. The Crown withdrew one other assault charge.
Agreed to peace bond
Josiah McKinnon, 25, of Victoria Corner, appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 28 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled.
McKinnon was charged with assault by choking involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Dec. 20, 2025, at Victoria Corner. The peace bond will result in the charge being withdrawn.
Charges diverted
Hannah McGuire, 19, of Woodstock appeared in provincial court on Oct. 27 to answer two charges laid by RCMP.
McGuire was charged with assaulting another woman and uttering threats concerning an incident on Aug. 5 at Richmond Corner. The Crown agreed to divert the charges to the Alternative Measures Program. McGuire must complete the program requirements by Jan. 26, 2027, to have the charges withdrawn.
Conditional discharge, probation
Georgia Wilson, 21, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Oct. 29 after changing her plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. She received a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation.
Wilson pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on July 22, 2025, in Wilmot, and breaching an undertaking (no contact) on July 26, 2025, in Summerfield. The Crown withdrew one other charge.
Not-guilty plea
Dominic (Dominique) Gagnon, 40, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court on Oct. 28 for a monitoring hearing before trial.
Gagnon pleaded not guilty to mischief by damaging a police phone following an incident on June 5 in Woodstock. The accused also appeared in court in custody via video on Sept. 3 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by the RCMP. A trial date was set for July 2, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Gagnon was also charged with committing public mischief, uttering threats and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on Feb. 17 at Stickney, and trespassing at Sanctuary House in Woodstock on Jan. 31. The court heard that Gagnon also has other trials scheduled for Feb. 17, 2027, and Oct. 7-8, 2027.
