Armed intruder awaits sentencing on Monday
Mason Bustard, 18, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody by video on April 3 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Judge Henrik Tonning ordered Bustard to appear in court in person and adjourned his sentencing until April 7 at 1:30 p.m. The court heard the crown would be recommending a two-year jail sentence for the accused. Tonning said Bustard was youthful and should appear in person to hear his sentence.
Bustard was denied bail on Aug. 8, 2024. He pleaded guilty to uttering threats against a female on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock and guilty to breaking into a garage on Houlton Street, wearing a mask during the commission of an offence, and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife) on July 16, 2024, in Woodstock. The crown withdrew two other charges.
Bustard was arrested after police received a report of an armed intruder who entered a yard on Houlton Street on the morning of July 16, 2024, and approached a woman while holding a knife. The man’s face was partially covered with a mask or scarf.
He instructed the woman to go inside her house. She immediately complied and locked the door behind her. The man then went inside her garage before eventually leaving the area.
Woodstock Police also charged Bustard with breach of a release order, possession of prohibited weapons (a sawed-off shotgun and brass knuckles); possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and ammunition for another incident on July 28, 2024, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty to three of those charges, and the remaining charge was withdrawn.
Police made their arrest after spotting a suspect on Houlton Street around noon on July 28, 2024. The individual fled on a bicycle into the woods and was pursued by officers on foot. During the chase, the suspect discarded various items, including a sawed-off shotgun, brass knuckles, and a mask, which were retrieved later by an RCMP police dog.
Fined $650 for firearm offences
Eric Trecartin, 79, of East Brighton, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 3 and changed his plea to guilty on two firearm charges. He was fined $650.
Trecartin was charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it and transporting a firearm (a rifle) carelessly in connection with an incident on Nov. 10, 2023, at Rosedale.
He pleaded to possession of a firearm without a licence and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun. The crown withdrew the remaining two charges. The rifle was forfeited to the crown.
The court heard police spotted Trecartin parked on the roadside with the firearm in his vehicle. He told police he was out on a hunting trip with his grandson. There was no clip on the gun.
Held for bail hearing
Gary Frederick Kilcollins, 48, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on April 3. The bail hearing was adjourned until April 24 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Woodstock Police charged Kilcollins with breaching his release order in connection with an incident on March 13 in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on July 12, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He later pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by Woodstock Police, and trial dates were set for July 17-18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Kilcollins with breaking and entering, theft of a TV, and breach of probation for an incident between April 8 and April 16, 2024, in Woodstock, and driving while suspended on Dec. 7, 2023.
He was also charged with theft from the Woodstock Superstore on March 24, 2024, and theft from the Vie Thrift Boutique on April 13, 2024. A mischief charge was also laid for an incident on Jan.2, 2024, when a window was broken at another property in town. He was also charged with breach of probation and theft from Home Hardware in Woodstock on Jan. 15, 2024.
Arrested on new charges
Ashley Paul, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 4 for a bail hearing on new charges laid by RCMP. She was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on June 23.
Paul was charged with breaking into a dwelling house, theft of two TVs and a laptop, mischief causing property damage to a door, breach of probation, and breach of a peace bond following an incident on March 21 at Craig’s Flats. She was also charged with breaching her curfew on April 1 at Bairdsville.
Paul is also facing other separate charges in connection with an alleged kidnapping at Neqotkuk in April 2024. She was released with conditions at that time with an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle.
Plea adjourned in drug trafficking case
Larry Shane Kennedy, 50, of Kirkland, and Joshua Sterling Trail, 41, of Benton, appeared in provincial court on April 3 to answer drug trafficking charges related to a police bust in Kirkland on Feb. 16.
Kennedy and Trail were each charged with possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine, both for the purpose of trafficking. Trail appeared in court in custody by video. The two men return to court for plea on May 13 at 1:30 p.m.
On Feb. 18, Kennedy and Trail appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on indictable robbery charges laid by RCMP. Kennedy was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Trail waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail.
They were each charged with indictable robbery of a motor vehicle on Feb. 5 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), illegal possession of a firearm (a Russian SKS semi-automatic rifle), and improper storage of a gun on Feb. 16 at Kirkland. Trail was also charged with fraudulent impersonation at Richmond Corner on Dec. 9, 2024.
On March 11, Trail appeared in provincial court in custody by video to answer more charges laid by Woodstock Police. That matter was adjourned for plea until May 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Trail was charged with breaking into a dwelling house on Charlotte Street to commit mischief, unlawful entry for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of break-in tools, possession of a stolen Blue Cross card, mischief causing property damage to a door, interfering with the lawful use of property, and illegal possession of methamphetamine for an incident between Sept. 6-7, 2024, in Woodstock.
A co-accused, Dynielle Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on April 3 to answer the same list of charges for the alleged break-in on Charlotte Street. She also returns to court for plea on May 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Demerchant is also awaiting a new trial date on other separate charges of possession of stolen property and breach of probation concerning an incident on Sept. 17, 2024, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty.
Agreed to peace bond
Andrew Betts, 42, of Waterville, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 4 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by RCMP. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled.
Betts was charged with assaulting another man following an incident on Sept. 11, 2023, in Waterville. The peace bond will result in the charge being withdrawn.
Sentencing set on three charges
Kyle Glen Anderson, 38, of Hartland, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 3 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Aug. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Anderson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, committing mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and two counts of uttering threats in connection with an incident on July 4, 2023, at Ashland.
He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond in relation to another charge of assault involving a female victim. The peace bond will result in that charge being withdrawn.
Bail hearing adjourned
Austin Aubin, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 3 for a bail hearing on four charges laid by RCMP. The bail hearing was adjourned until April 10 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Aubin was charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, breach of probation, unsafe storage of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a licence concerning a March 27 incident at Neqotkuk.
Trial adjourned for a week
Stephen Perley, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on April 4 after pleading not guilty to multiple firearm charges. The trial was adjourned until April 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the crown’s request.
Perley appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4, 2024, and was denied bail. RCMP charged him with unlawful transport of firearms (several rifles, a shotgun, and a nine-millimetre handgun), possession of prohibited firearms, two counts of transporting firearms carelessly, two counts of possessing firearms without a licence, and possession of a gun with the serial number altered in connection with an incident on Sept. 24, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on March 28 and pleaded guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date will be set after his trial on April 10.
Perley pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on Sept. 10, 2024, at Neqotkuk; flight from police on Sept. 14, 2024, at Neqotkuk; and breach of probation by failing to report from Oct. 25, 2022, to Jan. 27, 2023. He has a prior criminal record.
Released with stricter conditions
Jeffrey Richard Bull, 45, of Newburg, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on April 4 after being arrested for breaching his release order. He was released with conditions, including full house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Bull appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on March 27 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on April 22 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Bull with breaking into a dwelling house and breach of probation stemming from an incident on March 16 at Bulls Creek. The court heard another charge is pending for possession of stolen property.
He is also scheduled for trial in provincial court on Aug. 7 and Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two other charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Bull pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Jan. 7. A pre-trial conference was also set for June 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Bull appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 9, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged with aggravated assault and breach of probation concerning an incident on Sept. 8, 2024, at 2 a.m. when a man suffered a broken elbow after being struck by a bat on St. James Street in Woodstock. The alleged victim was a newcomer to the town for only three days.
Released to await hearing
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on April 3. He was released with conditions and returns to court on April 25 at 1:30 p.m. for a hearing about an alleged breach of his house arrest.
Schloemer appeared in court in custody via teleconference on April 1 after being arrested on a warrant.
On Feb. 4, he was handed 12 months of house arrest when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing. He was ordered to follow a curfew for the first six months and complete 50 hours of community service work. He was also ordered to seek counselling and treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and anger management.
Schloemer appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. He pleaded guilty to breaching a release order (house arrest) concerning an incident on Sept. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
Schloemer also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Neqotkuk; and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Williamstown. The crown withdrew another charge of failing to appear in court.
Couple facing multiple charges
A Neqotkuk couple will appear in provincial court in custody by video on April 15 to answer multiple charges laid by RCMP.
Nicholas Paul, 47, and his wife, Jennifer Louise Paul, 45, were arrested at Tobique First Nation. They appeared in court in custody on April 3 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Jennifer Paul was denied bail in December. She was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) without a licence and being an occupant of a vehicle, knowing it carried a gun for an incident on Sept. 25, 2024, at Neqotkuk. She pleaded not guilty. A new date for her trial will be set on April 15 at 9:30 a.m.
At the time of their arrest, they were each charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. The crown withdrew another charge of trafficking in cocaine on March 18. They pleaded not guilty, and their trial date was set for July 14 and July 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Jennifer Paul was also charged with breach of a release order (no weapons), possession of a stolen licence plate, possession of a prohibited weapon (a collapsible baton) without a licence, and possession of currency obtained by crime for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. She pleaded not guilty. A new date for her trial will be confirmed on April 15.
Nicholas Paul was also charged with breach of a release order and driving while prohibited on Sept. 22-24, 2024, at Neqotkuk and breach of a release order (no drugs), possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a stolen licence plate on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. He will enter a plea on April 15 at 9:30 a.m.
Jennifer Paul was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, breach of probation and possession of a stolen credit card for an incident on Sept. 12, 2024, at Neqotkuk. She pleaded not guilty. A new date for her trial will be set on April 15.
