Rodney Butler, 49, of Bulls Creek, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 15 and told the court he still does not have legal counsel for his trial related to a kidnapping and shooting case in December.
Butler appeared before Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean and explained veteran Defence Counsel Gary Miller was referring him to a new lawyer. However, he had yet to receive legal advice for his trial and had not reviewed his file with any legal counsel.
Judge McLean ordered Butler to return to court on Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed to trial. Dates for Butler’s five-day trial were set for Dec. 4, Dec. 6-8, and Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Butler with reckless discharge of a firearm, indictable assault, uttering threats, using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a firearm without a licence, and illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle, following an incident on Nov. 13, 2021, at Bulls Creek.
On that date, RCMP was called to the scene of a fatal shooting on Route 165 at Bulls Creek. Christine Pelletier-Thibodeau, 35, died as a result of her injuries. Over the next several days, police tape was erected around the property, including a residence surrounded by a vehicle salvage yard.
Timothy Grant, 30, of Canterbury, appeared in provincial court on July 4 for monitoring about his trial on charges related to the alleged kidnapping. He confirmed he had secured legal counsel and would be ready to proceed. His two-day trial was set for Sept. 6-7 at 9:30 a.m.
Grant pleaded not guilty to three charges concerning an incident on Nov. 13, 2021, in Scott Siding. RCMP charged him with using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, and indictable assault.
Held for bail hearing
Brandon Cecil Armour, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 15 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear. He was remanded into custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police charged Armour with prowling at night and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on March 24 in Woodstock.
He is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 16 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. He entered his plea at a court appearance on Feb. 21.
Armour was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and assault on a female victim, stemming from an incident on June 8, 2022, in Hartland.
Trial set on drug trafficking charge
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 22, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on June 6-7, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a drug trafficking charge.
Abualhawa was charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident on Feb. 21 at Woodstock First Nation. The charge was laid in connection with a search of a vehicle. His defence counsel entered his not-guilty plea on his behalf on Aug. 15.
Released with conditions after bail hearing
Jacob Jinson, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 14 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Jinson with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet). The charge was laid concerning an incident on July 30 in Mainstream.
On June 26, Jinson and Riley Cowper, 19, of Limestone, elected trial by judge and jury on charges of indictable sexual assault and unlawful confinement. Their trial will be held at the Court of King’s Bench with a date to be set on the next motion’s day on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Jinson appeared in custody by video on April 3. RCMP charged him with sexual assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, and breach of probation concerning an incident on March 26 at Limestone. He was released with strict conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was also ordered to follow a curfew.
Cowper appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 5 for a bail hearing and was released with strict conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. RCMP charged him with sexual assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, and breach of probation in connection with the same incident on March 26 at Limestone.
Cowper also faces a charge for another incident at Limestone last year. RCMP charged him with assault with a weapon (a hammer and tire iron) involving another man on March 23, 2022. Cowper pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, and a trial date for provincial court was set for Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Released with conditions following bail hearing
Braxton Denny, 23, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 11 for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant. He was released with conditions and then returned to court for plea on Aug. 15.
Denny was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house concerning an incident on Feb. 18 in Woodstock. The matter was adjourned for plea until Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Denny is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on March 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP.
Denny was charged with committing mischief causing property damage and breach of an undertaking on Dec. 9, 2022, at Upper Woodstock; two counts of assault and committing mischief causing property damage on Dec. 8, 2022, at Upper Woodstock. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court and was released with conditions. Denny entered his not-guilty pleas at a court appearance on April 25.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Dylan Thibodeau, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 15 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial date was set for Nov. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Thibodeau appeared in court on July 31 and was denied bail. RCMP charged him with breach of a release order, violation of a no-contact order, and failing to comply with an order to abstain from drugs or alcohol following an incident on July 26 at Neqotkuk.
RCMP also charged Thibodeau with assaulting a female victim, assault by choking, and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on June 21 at Neqotkuk.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on June 26 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to report to the police weekly and to stay away from Neqotkuk. He was residing at a residence in Beechwood and later taken back into custody.
Arrest warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Joseph Martin, 37, of Perth-Andover, after he failed to appear in provincial court for plea on Aug. 15.
Martin appeared in provincial court in custody on July 18 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. RCMP charged him with assault with a weapon (a baseball bat) involving a female victim, uttering threats, and committing mischief causing property damage in connection with a July 18 incident at Perth-Andover. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant and must report to the police weekly. Martin was also ordered to have no firearms in his possession.
Woodstock man waiting for trial date
Jace Maddox Anderson, 18, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial. He appeared in provincial court on Aug. 15 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Anderson was charged with assault and uttering threats in connection with an incident at a Woodstock apartment on May 25. He made his first court appearance on July 18.
Remanded to jail after warrant executed
Amber Holt, 32, of Bluebell, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 15 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. She waived her bail until later and was remanded to jail. She returns to court for plea on Sept. 5 at 11 a.m.
Holt appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on July 27 after being arrested on a warrant. She was released with conditions but failed to return to court.
RCMP charged Holt with possession of a firearm without a licence (.22 Magnum rifle) and careless use of a firearm for an incident on June 22, 2022, in Weaver. A warrant was issued for Holt when she failed to appear in court for plea on the firearm charges.
An earlier warrant was also issued for her in January after she failed to appear in provincial court to answer charges of flight from police and driving while suspended for an incident on Sept. 5, 2022. She is also facing charges of possession of stolen property, fraud, impersonation, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
Meductic woman awaiting plea
Tori Madeline Snow, 20, of Meductic, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 15 for plea on several charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned to Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Snow appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 6 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and a no-contact order to stay away from the complainants. She is residing at a residence in Windsor.
RCMP charged Snow with assaulting another woman with a weapon (a metal bar), uttering threats, and theft of a safe, following an incident on June 19 at Meductic. She was also charged with assault causing bodily harm to a male person, committing mischief causing property damage, and break and enter at a dwelling house with intent to commit an assault, concerning another incident on July 3 at Meductic. She was arrested and taken into custody on July 3.
Dow Settlement man to stand trial
James Earle Dow, 47, of Dow Settlement, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 5, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP.
Dow was charged with driving while prohibited and refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident on May 14 at Dow Settlement. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Aug. 15.
Aroostook man facing two charges
Marc Morin, 24, of Aroostook, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 12 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. He appeared in court on Aug. 15 when the matter was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
Morin was charged with possession of a stolen snowmobile and obstructing a police officer in connection with an incident on March 6 in Carlingford. He made his first court appearance on July 25.
In custody awaiting plea
James Blair Hovey, 27, of Perth Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 15 for plea on several charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Hovey appeared in court in custody on July 26 and was denied bail. He appeared in provincial court in custody on June 27 after being arrested on a warrant. He was charged with breach of a release order between June 10 and June 12 in Grand Falls and failing to attend court for plea in Woodstock on June 13.
Hovey appeared in provincial court in custody on May 18 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. On June 13, the court heard he was working outside the area near the Quebec border and could not get to court to make his plea.
Hovey was first arrested on a warrant on 12 charges. He was charged by RCMP with two counts of assault on a female victim, two counts of assault with a weapon (a knife and bear spray), three counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, pointing a firearm at another person, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm (a shotgun) without a licence, assault while threatening to use a weapon (a machete), and committing mischief causing property damage to an iPhone, laptop computer, and a flat-screen TV. The incidents occurred at Plaster Rock between Dec. 14 and Dec. 20, 2022, and between Feb. 1 and Feb. 28 of this
year.
He appeared in court in custody on May 1 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions but allegedly breached his release order. He was later charged with break and enter at a dwelling house and theft, concerning an incident on May 12.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Austin Francis, 25, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on June 13, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP.
Francis was charged with assault involving a female victim and assault with a weapon (a metal bar) concerning an incident on Feb. 23 at Neqotkuk. He entered his not-guilty plea on Aug. 15.
Sentencing set on theft charge
Jeremy Graves, 29, of Lincoln, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 15 and pleaded guilty to a theft charge. He returns to court for sentencing on Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Graves was charged with stealing gas from the Esso station in Florenceville-Bristol on Feb. 11. The court heard Grave was in custody on other matters in Fredericton and was sentenced to a federal prison term for those offences on July 31.
Trial set on two charges
Abigail King-Thurber, 23, of Sheffield, will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 29 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. She will also face other trial matters at that time.
King-Thurber was charged with failing to attend court on March 28 and possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with an incident on Nov. 30, 2022, at East Brighton. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Aug. 15.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Tyson Tony Sappier, 26, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on April 25, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
Sappier appeared in custody by video on May 12 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged by Woodstock Police with theft from the Atlantic Superstore and breach of probation on June 15, 2021, in Woodstock. RCMP also charged him with breach of probation by failing to report to a probation officer on July 14, 2021, at Neqotkuk. His defence counsel entered his not-guilty plea on his behalf on Aug. 15.
Trial set impaired driving charge
Amit Mann, 40, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 12, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Mann was charged in connection with an incident on Feb. 11 in Woodstock. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Aug. 15.
Charges withdrawn
Kyle McCoy, 34, of Woodstock First Nation, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 11 when the charges against him were withdrawn by the crown.
RCMP charged McCoy with assault with a weapon (a knife) and uttering threats against another man in connection with an incident on April 2 at Woodstock First Nation.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 13 and waived his bail. At that time, RCMP charged McCoy with breaching his house arrest, concerning another incident on April 5 at Woodstock First Nation. The court heard he was also in custody other charges in Fredericton.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Tyler Randall Moulton, 31, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Aug. 15 for monitoring about his trial. He returns to court on Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed to trial.
Moulton appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 23 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial date was set for Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. He was later released with conditions.
On May 2, Moulton was arrested on a warrant on a mischief charge in Edmunston. He was one of six former inmates charged in connection with an October 2021 riot at the Madawaska jail that caused over $100,000 in damage to the institution.
Moulton was also scheduled for trial on charges laid by RCMP but failed to appear. He was charged with unlawful confinement, assault, and uttering threats involving a female victim in relation to an incident on July 9, 2021, and with breach of probation on Jan. 30, 2020. Both incidents occurred at Neqotkuk. He also faces two counts of breach of an undertaking.
Minto man has charges transferred
Codie Nicholas McNeill, 22, of Minto, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 11 to answer three charges laid by RCMP. The matter was transferred to Fredericton at the request of his defence counsel.
McNeill was charged with break and enter at the Covered Bridge Golf and Country Club, committing mischief causing property damage to a storage shed door, and possession of stolen property (a 2013 Ford Taurus) following an incident on March 28 near Hartland.
Trial adjourned to new date
Kaylea Jessika Spittle, 23, of Carlingford, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 11 on an impaired driving charge. The trial was adjourned until Dec. 6-7 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Spittle following an incident on Nov. 20, 2021, near Greenfield. She made her first court appearance on Jan. 17.
Warrant being held on file
A warrant is being held on file for Dean Randall Bell, 43, of McAdam, after he failed to appear in court on Aug. 15.
RCMP charged Bell with possession of stolen property (a 2010 Ford half-ton), and breach of probation for an incident on March 17, 2021, in Benton.
The court heard Bell was recently taken into custody and transferred to hospital for treatment of an infected dog bite. He was released while at the hospital and then failed to attend court due to lack of transportation. There are also warrants out for his arrest in Fredericton.
