Man awaits sentencing on slew of charges
A Benton man, who led police on a wild chase and days later jumped into the Eel River, is expected to receive a lengthy jail term for his crimes.
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on March 13 and changed his plea to guilty on a raft of charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. His sentencing date was set for April 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He has been in custody since his arrest last August and has a prior criminal record.
On Friday, 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 A breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.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.
On another charge, Hayes received a directed verdict of not guilty of criminal harassment through text messages on June 22, 2025, at Bairdsville. The female complainant did not appear to testify, and the Crown called no evidence.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to another charge of assault that was 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.
Greenfield man released
Jordan Hill, 21, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 13 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. He returns to court for plea on April 7 at 9:30 a.m.
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.
Verdict in July on sex charges
Joseph Michael Sercerchi, 74, of Bayfield, Ontario, appeared for his trial at the Court of King’s Bench this week after pleading not guilty to three sex charges laid by Woodstock Police. After two days of testimony, Justice Richard Petrie reserved his decision on a verdict until July 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Sercerchi was charged with three counts of indictable assault involving a female minor in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 1991, and Dec. 31, 1998, in Woodstock. He was committed to stand trial after a preliminary hearing in October 2024.
Released with conditions
Joshua Jarrett, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 12 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He returns to court for his trial on June 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Jarrett pleaded not guilty on March 5 to flight from police, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, breach of probation and driving while suspended on Feb. 5 in Woodstock; and theft of a truck on Feb. 5 in East Brighton. The charges were laid by the RCMP.
In custody awaiting trial
Brandon Coté, 30, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 12 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was scheduled for April 30 and May 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Coté was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Feb. 26. He was charged with flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump-action shotgun), breach of probation, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it in connection with an incident on Feb. 16 in Florenceville-Bristol when a spike belt was used to stop a vehicle. He has a prior criminal record.
Failed to appear for sentencing
Austin Powers, 26, of Beaconsfield, appeared in court in custody via teleconference on March 11 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear for sentencing on Feb. 3.
He was remanded for a bail hearing on March 12 and returns to court for sentencing on March 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Powers appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Nov. 6, 2025, and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by the RCMP. He was released with conditions to await his sentencing, but did not return to court.
Powers was denied bail on June 6, 2025 and spent several months in custody. He was charged with two counts of breaching a recognizance on May 15 and May 20, 2025, at Plaster Rock; assault while threatening to use a weapon (a wooden mallet), assault involving a female victim, two counts of uttering threats, breaching an order not to have weapons in his possession on May 21, 2025, at Plaster Rock; and resisting arrest and uttering threats to police on May 23, 2025, at Plaster Rock. Powers has a prior criminal record.
He pleaded guilty to both counts of breaching a recognizance, resisting arrest and uttering threats to police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on the assault charges. The remaining charges will be withdrawn by the Crown. A sentence of time served was expected for the accused.
Bail hearing adjourned
Christopher Elliott, 35, of Wapske, appeared in provincial court in custody via video for a bail hearing on March 12 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to return to court for plea. His bail hearing was adjourned until March 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Elliott was charged by the RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house and breaching probation in connection with an incident on March 31, 2025, at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). He had an earlier bail hearing and was released on conditions, but did not return for plea.
Remanded for bail hearing
James Blair Hovey, 29, of Perth Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 12 for a bail hearing on five charges laid by the RCMP. The hearing was adjourned until March 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Hovey was charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, possession of a stolen snowmobile, flight from police and breach of probation following an incident on Feb. 24 at Florenceville-Bristol. He has a prior criminal record.
Change of plea
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court in custody via video for a monitoring hearing on March 12 and changed his plea to guilty on multiple charges. His sentencing date was booked for April 10 at 1:30 p.m.
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 in Woodstock on Jan. 13, 2025. The charges were laid by Woodstock Police.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning 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 possession of a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He pleaded guilty on March 12.
