Arrests happen after hours-long police search
Two Centreville men will appear in provincial court in custody for their bail hearings on Friday, July 21.
Connell Ross McLean, 27, and Issac Tedford Thomas, 27, were each charged by RCMP with possession of a restricted weapon while prohibited. They were remanded on charges related to a series of incidents, including a police chase and shots fired, stretching through several Carleton County communities on Monday.
Crown Prosecutor Brian Munn said several more charges are pending against each man, including discharging a firearm with intent and flight from police.
McLean will return for his bail hearing by video on Friday at 9:30 a.m., while Thomas’s bail hearing is set for 1:30 p.m.
The two men were arrested following a collision between an off-road vehicle and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton, south of Harland, Monday afternoon. The arrests were related to a Monday morning incident in Speerville, south of Woodstock, which included shots fired.
The suspects fled Speerville, which led to an hours-long police search and investigation in several communities, including Lakeville, between Centreville and Woodstock, and Lower Brighton.
Perth-Andover man arrested
Joseph Martin, 37, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody on July 18 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Martin was charged by RCMP 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 charged
Jace Maddox Anderson, 18, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. to answer 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.
Sentenced to 120 days or time served
Donald James Pirie, 28, of Perth-Andover, appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody by video on July 18 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP.
He was sentenced to 120 days in jail or time served and was placed on probation for two years. Pirie must also attend mental health and addiction counselling.
Pirie first appeared in provincial court in custody on April 13 and waived his bail until a later date. He was charged with breach of a release order by being at large in violation of electronic monitoring and committing mischief by damaging his ankle bracelet, stemming from an incident on April 12 at a camp in Gladwyn.
He pleaded guilty to the breach and the mischief charge was withdrawn by the crown.
Pirie also pleaded guilty to assaulting another man, uttering threats, and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Jan. 21 in Perth-Andover. The court heard Pirie got into a fist fight in the parking lot outside the community arena.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 27 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, but was later brought back into custody. Pirie had a prior criminal record.
Released with time served
Megan Jessica Lewis, 30, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on July 18 after pleading guilty to charges laid by RCMP. She was sentenced to 180 days in jail or time served and was released from custody.
Lewis was charged by RCMP with uttering threats and unlawful entry at a dwelling house for an incident on March 1 at East Brighton; and unlawful entry at a dwelling house, assault on a male victim, and breach of an undertaking for another incident at the same residence on March 4 at East Brighton; and unlawful entry at a dwelling house on Feb. 25.
Lewis was also charged by RCMP with unlawful entry at a dwelling house, concerning an incident on Nov. 29, 2021, at East Brighton. She received a suspended sentence and 18 months probation for that offence. Lewis had a limited prior criminal record.
The court heard Lewis broke into the same residence in East Brighton on three separate occasions. She knew the owner and after gaining entry made herself to home on the premises. When he returned and found her in his house, he notified police and asked her to leave. During one break-in, she attacked the male owner and scratched his face badly when he told her to get out.
Lewis appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing following a five-day mental health assessment. She was then transferred into the care of the Restigouche Hospital under the purview of the provincial Mental Health Review Board and after a lengthy hospital stay was found fit to stand trial.
Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean told the court Lewis struggles with mental health issues, addiction, and homelessness. He said she was “safe, fed and sober” while in jail, but with her sentence served, it would now be up to her to get her life in order. He recommended she contact probation services immediately to get help with counselling. Lewis told the judge she hoped to stay with family after her release.
Arrested for breaching house arrest
Randall Austin Christie, 30, of Central Waterville, York County, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 17 after being arrested on a warrant for breaching his house arrest.
Christie admitted to the breach and was released with conditions. He spent the weekend in jail. He was charged by Woodstock Police after he requested a change of address and then failed to report his whereabouts to the authorities between June 27 and July 10.
Christie told the court he moved to Fredericton but fell off the radar for a few days.
In February, he received six months of house arrest and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on other charges. He still has another month of house arrest left to serve. Christie was ordered to report to the authorities as required from now on.
Trial set on drug trafficking charge
Stephanie Lynn Lockard, 40, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court on July 18 and pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Her trial was set for April 15, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. She will return to court on Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. for monitoring about her trial.
Lockard was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and illegal possession of cannabis, stemming from an incident on Dec. 17, 2022, in Woodstock.
Decision reserved after trial on sex charge
Matthew White, 41, of Upper Woodstock, will return to provincial court on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. for a verdict following the conclusion of his trial on July 17.
White was charged by RCMP with invitation to touching for a sexual purpose, involving a female minor, in connection with an incident on July 22, 2022, at Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking to have no contact with the complainant.
After a day and a half of testimony, Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision. White testified in his own defence during the trial.
In custody awaiting trial
William (Billy) Harding, 33, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 18 and pleaded not guilty to all charges. A trial date was set for Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. Harding remains in custody.
He appeared in court in custody by video on July 11 for a fitness hearing after completing a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital and he was found fit to stand trial. Harding was denied bail at an earlier court appearance on May 8.
RCMP charged Harding with break and enter at a dwelling house, breach of a release order, and uttering threats for an incident on April 24 in Perth Andover.
He was also charged by RCMP with breach of an undertaking, and break and enter at a dwelling house for incidents on April 16 and April 17 in Perth-Andover. He was also charged with theft from the Great Canadian Dollar Store in Perth-Andover on April 1.
On April 20, Harding appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. However, he was arrested and taken back into custody six days after his release.
Released with conditions
Shane Lee Dickison, 35, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 17 after being arrested on a warrant. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Aug. 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Dickison was arrested after he failed to appear in provincial court to answer charges on July 11. He was charged by Woodstock Police with two violations of an Emergency Intervention Order for incidents on June 18-19 when he allegedly went to a residence while ordered to stay away. As part of his release order, he must stay away from the same residence and have no contact with the complainant.
Sentencing set for Arthurette man
Alexander St. Peter, 23, of Arthurette, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 17 and changed his plea to guilty on charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court for sentencing on Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
St. Peter was charged by RCMP with assaulting a female victim and unlawful entry at a dwelling house in relation to an incident on Aug. 16, 2021, in Arthurette. He was also charged with failing to attend court on Nov. 1, 2022.
Returning to court for plea
Curtis Brent Hatheway, 43, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on July 25 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He appeared in court on July 18 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Hatheway appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 6 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He will be residing at a Woodstock apartment.
Hatheway was also ordered to have no contact with the complainant and to attend court as required. He was charged by Woodstock Police with assault involving a female victim, breach of probation, and breach of a release order, stemming from an incident on June 22 in Woodstock.
On June 6, Hatheway was arrested on a warrant and released with conditions. He was charged by Woodstock Police with assault with a weapon (a shovel), assault involving a female victim, breach of a release order, and breach of probation, following another incident on May 9 in Woodstock.
Charged with drug trafficking
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 22, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. to enter a plea on a drug trafficking charge. He was scheduled to appear in court on July 18 but the matter was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
Abualhawa was charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on Feb. 21 at Woodstock First Nation. He made his first court appearance in Woodstock on June 20.
Arrested and released with conditions
Brittany Francis of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on July 14 and was released with conditions. She was charged with breach of a release order and returns to court on Sept. 19 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing.
Francis also appeared in custody on June 19 after being arrested on a warrant.
RCMP charged Francis with shoplifting at the Maliseet Gas Bar in Neqotkuk on June 30, 2022; and two counts of failing to appear in court on Oct. 11, 2022, and again on April 25. She pleaded guilty to the theft and one count of failing to attend court.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Calvin Joseph Nicholas, 53, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on July 18 to answer charges laid by RCMP. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and a trial date was set for Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Nicholas was charged by RCMP with uttering threats against another man and breaching an undertaking for an incident at Neqotkuk in 2021. He entered his not-guilty plea in May 2022 and a trial date was set for Feb. 17 of this year but he failed to appear.
Nicholas appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 4 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He is residing at a residence in Lower Kintore with an order to attend court, report to the police weekly, follow a curfew, and abide by a no-contact order. Nicholas has a lengthy prior criminal record.
He was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear for trial on Feb. 17. He also failed to appear in court on Jan. 3 to answer charges of breach of probation and failing to report his whereabouts to the national sex offender registry on July 3, 2022. He pleaded not guilty on all counts at his court appearance on July 18.
Theft charge transferred
Jeremy Graves, 29, of Lincoln, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 18 to answer one charge laid by RCMP.
Graves was charged with stealing gas from the Esso station in Florenceville-Bristol on Feb. 11. The court heard Graves was being held in custody on other outstanding matters in Fredericton and would be sentenced on July 31. He requested the theft charge be transferred to Fredericton where he intends to plead guilty at his court appearance on July 31.
Trial set on impaired driving charge
James Paul Perley, 30, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on May 6, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge.
Perley was charged by RCMP in connection with an incident on March 25 at Neqotkuk. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on July 18.
