Jacksonville man awaits sentencing on gun charge
Shayne Everett Cameron, 30, of Jacksonville, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 4 and changed his plea to guilty on a weapon charge laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Aug. 9 at 1:30 p.m.
Cameron pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun) for an incident on Jan. 24, 2023, at Juniper. A second charge of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace will be withdrawn at sentencing. The crown also agreed to withdraw another charge of possessing a stolen vehicle in Woodstock on April 11, 2023.
Cameron appeared in provincial court in custody on April 25 for a bail hearing and was denied bail.
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of assaulting police with a weapon (a knife), robbery, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of mail, uttering threats, assault with a weapon; flight from police, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, and breach of a release order for an incident on Jan. 22. He pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m. and Aug. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police laid the charges after locating a man in the passenger seat of a vehicle at a business on Connell Street. The man threatened the driver with a weapon, attempting to encourage the driver to flee. Police gained entry to the vehicle and attempted to remove the man when he grabbed a knife and attempted to stab the officers.
Two officers sustained minor injuries in the incident. The driver then exited the vehicle, and the man got into the driver’s seat and fled the scene. A short time later, the vehicle was located in Perth-Andover by RCMP. A police dog located the individual, and he was arrested without incident.
Cameron appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 23 after being arrested the day before on five warrants. He has been in custody since that time.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 8, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court on Oct. 31, 2023. He pleaded guilty at his court appearance on April 25, and a sentencing date was set for Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a release order (curfew) in Woodstock on Nov. 16, 2023. His sentencing on this charge will also occur on Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m. The crown withdrew a charge of breach of an undertaking on Sept. 28, 2023.
Cameron was also charged with uttering threats and assaulting another man on Oct. 28, 2023, at Greenfield. He pleaded not guilty and goes to trial on Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
He was also charged with breach of a no-contact order and resisting police on Nov. 4, 2023, at Perth-Andover. He pleaded guilty to the breach and not guilty to resisting arrest. Those matters will be dealt with in court on July 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Cameron was also charged with assaulting a female victim, assault with a weapon (a machete) and uttering threats for incidents between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and the trial will be held on Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m.
30 days in jail or time served
James Edward Pickard, 30, of Perth-Andover, was sentenced on July 4 to 30 days in jail or time served after changing his plea to guilty on an assault charge laid by RCMP.
Judge Sebastian Michaud also placed him on 12 months of probation and ordered him to seek counselling and have no contact with the victim. Pickard must also register with the federal DNA database, and he was prohibited from possessing any weapons or firearms. He was also fined $100.
Pickard pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a Japanese sword called a katana) concerning an incident on April 29, 2023, at Perth-Andover. Another charge of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace was withdrawn. The Japanese sword was forfeited to the crown at sentencing.
The court heard the incident involved an assault on another man at an apartment building in Perth-Andover. The man heard glass breaking and pounding on the floor in an upstairs apartment and went to investigate. When he knocked on the door, Pickard threw the Japanese sword, which landed at the victim’s feet. Crown evidence indicated Pickard was having a mental health crisis at the time.
Pickard spent two months in custody on remand after the incident. He had a dated prior criminal record.
He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond regarding two other charges of uttering threats and committing mischief on May 3, 2023, in Perth-Andover. The peace bond will result in those charges being withdrawn.
Pickard appeared in provincial court in custody for his bail hearing on July 12, 2023, and was released with conditions. He was remanded until his release from custody.
Sentencing set for impaired driving
Jean Paul Lutwick, 44, of East Newbridge, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 3 and changed his plea to guilty on an impaired driving charge. His sentencing date was set for Oct. 15 at 10 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Lutwick following an incident in Woodstock on April 6, 2023.
Theft charge withdrawn
Richard Evan Stockford, 30, of Waterville, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 3 after pleading not guilty to a theft charge. The crown withdrew the charge, and the trial was cancelled.
Woodstock Police charged Stockford with shoplifting at the Atlantic Superstore on June 12. He appeared in court in custody via teleconference on Oct. 17 and was released with conditions.
Stockford is also scheduled to appear in court on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a threat charge. Woodstock Police charged him with uttering threats against a local lawyer in connection with an incident on April 17, 2023. He made his first court appearance on June 11, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Trial adjourned on drug trafficking charge
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 24, of Fredericton, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 4 after pleading not guilty to a drug trafficking charge. At the crown’s request, the trial was adjourned until Oct. 16-18 at 1:30 p.m. due to a disclosure issue.
Abualhawa was charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident on Feb. 21, 2023, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). The charge was laid in connection with a search of a vehicle. A monitoring date for the trial was also set for Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
In custody for mental health assessment
Matthew McGrath, 30, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 4 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until July 15 at 11 a.m.
The court heard McGrath was remanded to the Restigouche hospital for a mental health assessment until July 10.
He was charged by RCMP with assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, resisting arrest and breach of probation in connection with an incident on June 26 at Plaster Rock. McGrath is also facing other charges in Edmundston.
Released with conditions
Jace Maddox Anderson, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 4 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
Woodstock Police charged Anderson with uttering threats and breach of a no-contact order following an incident on July 1 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for May 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
He also appeared in court in custody on Jan. 18 and was released with conditions. Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of uttering threats against a female victim in connection with incidents on Jan. 14 and Jan. 17 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for March 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police also charged Anderson with assault and uttering threats in connection with an incident at a Woodstock apartment on May 25, 2023. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was adjourned to May 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Anderson also faces a charge of failing to appear in court on Nov. 1, 2023. He pleaded not guilty, and the trial was adjourned to May 19, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Bail hearing rescheduled
Trevor Crain, 49, of Killoween, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 4 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until July 8 at 10 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel. He remains in custody.
Crain was charged by RCMP with possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), resisting arrest, and breach of a release order in connection with an incident on July 1 at Killoween. He also faces a charge of possessing stolen property for a separate incident on May 5.
Crain is also scheduled to appear for trial on July 11 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a series of other charges.
Crain was charged by RCMP with break and enter at a dwelling house and breaching an undertaking on June 15, 2023, at Moose Mountain, and committing an assault involving a female victim on June 11, 2023, at Killoween.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 14, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. As part of his release order, he was ordered to follow a curfew and report to the police weekly.
Agreed to peace bond
Matthew Wayne Hickens, 36, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 5 on four charges laid by Woodstock Police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond and the trial did not proceed.
Hickens was charged by Woodstock Police with two counts of uttering threats, assault while threatening to use a weapon (a double-sided axe), and breach of probation, stemming from an incident on Sept. 6, 2022, in Woodstock. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
Three charged in violent kidnapping get new plea date
Sheena Sappier, 36, and Keagan Paul, 32, both of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court for plea on July 4 in relation to a violent kidnapping at Tobique First Nation in April. A total of seven people have been charged in the incident.
Sappier, Keagan Paul, and Ashley Paul, 33, are jointly charged by RCMP. Their pleas were adjourned until July 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Sappier was charged with two counts of unlawful confinement, attempting to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence, and theft of a motor vehicle. Keagan Paul is facing similar charges.
Ashley Paul, 33, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 27 and was denied bail. She was charged with two counts of unlawful confinement, kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle, and attempting to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence.
She is also facing other separate charges. She pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house, and breach of probation on Feb. 14 at Neqotkuk; not guilty to assaulting another woman and breach of probation on March 2 at Perth-Andover; not guilty to obstructing police on April 11 at Neqotkuk; and not guilty to failing to appear in court on March 19.
A trial date of Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. was set to deal with the March 2 and April 11 incidents — a trial date for the Feb. 14 incident will be set at her next court appearance.
Paul was also charged with uttering a forged document ($2,000), possession of stolen cheques, fraud, and breach of probation for an incident on Oct. 10, 2023, at Perth-Andover. She will enter a plea to this set of charges at her next court appearance on July 18. Paul has a limited prior criminal record.
Preston Sockabasin, 27, of Neqotkuk, will appear in court for plea on July 8 at 9:30 a.m. on charges stemming from the alleged kidnapping. Sockabasin also faces separate charges of dangerous driving and flight from police for an incident on May 7.
Troy Pelkey, 56, of Tilley, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 and pleaded not guilty to four charges related to the alleged kidnapping. His three-day trial was set for Sept. 11-13 at 9:30 a.m. Pelkey was denied bail on May 10.
Adam Perley, 33, of Neqotkuk, appeared in court in custody by video for a bail hearing on May 30 and was denied bail. He returns to court in custody for plea on July 16 at 10 a.m.
Jacob Perley, 34, of Neqotkuk, also appeared in court in custody by video on June 18 and waived his bail until later. Sixteen charges were adjourned for plea until July 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Perley was also charged with breaching a conditional sentence order (house arrest). He appeared in court in custody by video on June 3 and was remanded to complete the rest of his sentence (317 days) behind bars.
On June 18, Jacob Perley was also ordered to serve another 27 days in jail for defaulting on a $1,200 fine for suspended driving. He will also stand trial in January on fraud charges.
Keagan Paul and Sockabasin appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 for their bail hearings.
They were released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to their ankles. They must also follow a curfew and undergo a 90-day drug rehabilitation program in their community.
Both men were ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and they were prohibited from possessing firearms. Paul and Sockabasin were also ordered to have no contact with the victim or any of the five others charged in the crime.
Sappier appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 31 for her bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle. She must also enter a drug rehab program in her community.
The victim, a 54-year-old woman from Florenceville-Bristol, was kidnapped at gunpoint, held against her will for two days, assaulted, and administered a noxious substance with intent to extort $10,000. She was treated at a hospital with significant but non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
A total of 62 charges were laid, including using a handgun to kidnap a female victim, extortion, uttering threats, assault, assault causing bodily harm, administering a noxious substance, forcible confinement using a choke hold, plastic bag and tape, possession of a prohibited firearm, pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, resisting arrest, unlawful confinement, theft of a motor vehicle, obstructing justice by disposing of evidence, and possession of a firearm without a licence.
The RCMP police dog service and air services assisted with the kidnapping investigation and arrests of the seven individuals charged. Police say the investigation is ongoing. A search warrant was executed at a residence at Neqotkuk on May 6.
