Border jumping on the increase: Two Romanian men sentenced to jail
Two Romanian men who have addresses in the United States were sentenced to several months in jail when they appeared in provincial court in custody on March 15.
Guiseppe Petre, 32, and David Constantin, 22, both of Sacramento, California, pleaded guilty to failing to appear for examination, a charge under Section 18 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean sentenced Petre to six months in jail, minus time served, and Constantin to five months in jail, minus time served.
“The problem of border jumping is becoming worse,” said Judge McLean. “The sentence must tell the accused and others that you will go to jail if you do this.”
The two men were arrested after a vehicle entered Canada without stopping at the Woodstock-Houlton border crossing on Jan. 30. The court heard they crossed the border around 2 a.m. in a large SUV bearing North Carolina licence plates. Border officials tried to flag them down with an alarm and flashing light and also used a strobe flashlight to try and get their attention as they drove away.
RCMP was called to apprehend them and located their vehicle on Main Street in Woodstock. Police returned the suspects to the border authorities without further incident. The two men told police they were confused and didn’t realize it was a border crossing.
Petre, the vehicle’s driver, told the court he did not see any warning light when they drove through the border. Both he and Constantin apologized to the court for their actions.
Crown Prosecutor Jillian Jordan told the court both men were wanted on warrants in Ontario and on file with the FBI for illegal entry into the United States. Petre was also wanted on a warrant for theft in the State of Iowa, and Constantin had outstanding theft charges in Fredericton.
Jordan recommended six months in jail for each accused, suggesting their sentences must “demonstrate you should not fail to report at the border.”
“The sentence should address the increased problem of border jumping,” said Jordan.
In deciding the sentence, Judge McLean noted there were no drugs, guns or human smuggling involved in the incident at the Woodstock-Houlton border. Still, he said the actions of the two Romanians showed they had “no respect for immigration rules in Canada or the U.S.”
Defence Counsel Alex Carleton requested both accused be sentenced to time served. They were in custody since their arrest on Jan. 30. The defence lawyer said other inmates were discriminating against both men during their incarceration.
The maximum jail sentence for crossing the border illegally is two years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.
Bail hearings delayed for Romanians arrested at Union Corner
Bail hearings were adjourned until next week for two Romanian men captured by police on March 8 for crossing the international border illegally at Union Corner. A Romanian woman travelling with them has been remanded to jail.
Narghita Cioroaba, 43, Dorel Istrate, 41, and Eduard-llie Scripcaru, 41, were each charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with failing to appear for examination.
Ciorobaba appeared in provincial court for a bail hearing on March 11 and was remanded to jail. She returns to court in custody for plea on April 9.
The bail hearings for Istrate and Scripcaru were adjourned until next week. Istrate will appear in court in custody for his bail hearing on March 21 at 9:30 a.m., and Scripcaru will return to court for his bail hearing on March 22 at 9:30 a.m. They remain in custody.
RCMP arrested them after receiving a call around 1 p.m. from the U.S. Border Patrol about three individuals heading for the international border on foot near Union Corner.
About 40 minutes later, police used a police dog to track them down in a wooded area. The three suspects were returned to the Canada Border Services Agency at the Woodstock-Houlton border. They told police they rented a vehicle in New York and then abandoned it near the border so they could walk the rest of the way into Canada.
Conditional discharge, probation for assault
Kathryn Graham, 27, of Grafton, appeared in provincial court on March 12 for sentencing on an assault charge. She received a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation.
RCMP charged Graham with assault on a minor in connection with an incident on May 1, 2023, in Grafton. She pleaded guilty.
Sentencing set for Woodstock man
Nicholas McConnell-Kinney, 26, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 13 and changed his plea to guilty on three charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for June 11 at 1:30 p.m.
McConnell-Kinney was charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and committing mischief by breaking a police officer’s glasses in connection with an incident on Jan. 1, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol.
He appeared in court in custody on March 13 on another charge of breach of an undertaking on Dec. 10, 2023. He was released with conditions and returns for court for plea on that charge on April 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Suspended sentence, probation and $2,000 fine
Isaac Robert Foster, 20, of Juniper, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 14 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP.
Foster was charged with driving while suspended, committing mischief causing property damage, impaired driving, uttering threats, and assault with a weapon (a steak knife) concerning an incident on Feb. 17, 2023, in Peel.
He pleaded guilty to impaired driving and the mischief charge. Foster was fined $2,000 and prohibited from driving for one year for being impaired. He received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation for mischief. The crown withdrew the remaining charges.
The court heard Foster was highly intoxicated when the incident occurred, and a lot of damage was done during a disturbance inside a residence — the impaired driving charge related to an ATV.
Fredericton senior fined $2,400
Holland Davidson, 72, of Rusagonis, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 13 and changed his plea to guilty of impaired driving. He was fined $2,400.
Davidson was charged by RCMP with impaired driving and dangerous driving, stemming from an incident on Feb. 23, 2023, near Jacksonville. The crown withdrew the remaining charge.
Jacksonville woman to stand trial for drug trafficking
Stephanie Lynn Lockard, 41, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court on March 15 for monitoring about her upcoming trial on a drug trafficking charge.
Lockard was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and illegal possession of cannabis, stemming from an incident on Dec. 17, 2022, in Woodstock.
She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was set for April 15 at 9:30 a.m. On March 15, Defence Counsel Alex Carleton told the court that he intends to present a Charter challenge during the trial.
Trial dates set for April
Jordan Ronald Broad, 29, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a plea on charges laid by RCMP. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial dates were set for April 22 and April 26 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Broad with breaching his release order stemming from an incident on Feb. 12. He was also charged with breach of an undertaking, assault with a weapon (a candleholder) and committing mischief causing property damage for an incident on Jan. 6 in Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in court for a bail hearing on Feb. 28 and was remanded to jail.
Broad also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 19, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. Broad was charged with assault, uttering threats, and assault by choking involving a female victim concerning an incident on Oct. 8, 2023, in Florenceville-Bristol.
In custody awaiting plea
Nekko Dominique, 31, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 14 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until March 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Dominique appeared in court in custody on Feb. 16 and was remanded to jail after a bail hearing. RCMP charged him with resisting arrest, breaking into a dwelling house, possession of break-in tools, and wearing a mask with intent to commit an indictable offence following an incident on Feb. 10 at a residence in Neqotkuk. He also faces a separate charge of breaching a six-month conditional sentence order handed down in the Miramichi.
Charge withdrawn
Daniel Trecartin, 36, of Hartland, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 15 after pleading not guilty to impaired driving. The crown withdrew the charge, and the trial was cancelled. The RCMP charged Trecartin in connection with an incident on Feb. 21, 2020, near Waterville.
Greenfield man in custody awaiting trial
Dustin Arthur Hawksley, 28, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 13 for trial on charges laid by RCMP. The trial did not proceed at the request of his defence counsel. Hawksley returns to court on March 26 at 10:30 a.m. to set a new trial date.
RCMP charged Hawksley with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet), escaping lawful custody, assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on Dec. 6, 2023, at Greenfield.
The charges allege Hawksley removed his ankle bracelet, and when under arrest, he allegedly punched a police officer in the face, kicked police while they were loading him into a vehicle, and tried to make his escape.
Hawksley was also charged by RCMP with break and enter at a dwelling house, two counts of assault on a female victim, and assault with a weapon (a plate) in connection with an incident on July 2, 2023, at Bloomfield. His trial date was set for Aug. 28 at 9:30 a.m. but is expected to be rescheduled at his next court appearance.
Woodstock Police also charged him with assaulting a female, assault by choking and breach of an undertaking for another incident on Aug. 5, 2023, in Woodstock. His trial date was set for Sept. 16 at 9:30 a.m. but is expected to be rescheduled at his next court appearance.
Hawksley appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing in September and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was also placed under house arrest at a residence in Greenfield but was brought back into custody in December. On Dec. 20, he appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail.
Returning for plea on two charges
Dean Fransky, 60, of Richmond Settlement, will appear in provincial court on April 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Fransky was charged with assault involving a female victim and unlawful confinement concerning an incident on Feb. 21 at Richmond Settlement. He made his first court appearance on March 12 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged with refusing breathalyzer
Curtis Leigh Pirie, 28, of Aroostook, will appear for trial in provincial court on April 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a breathalyzer charge.
Pirie was charged by the RCMP with refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident on Jan. 1 near Perth-Andover. He made his first court appearance on March 12, when the matter was adjourned to a new date.
Neqotkuk man back in custody
Brandon Michael Francis, 28, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing. The matter was adjourned until March 28 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Francis with resisting arrest and breach of probation concerning an incident on March 5 at Neqotkuk.
He was also charged with assault with a weapon (a metal bar) involving a male victim following an incident on Oct. 27, 2022, at Neqotkuk. Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean found him guilty after trial of common assault.
Francis failed to return to court for sentencing on Dec. 8, and an arrest warrant was issued. He is charged with breaching his release by failing to appear in court. He will be sentenced on the assault charge when he returns to court in custody on March 28.
In custody after incident in Johnville
Brandon Schriver, 22, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 14 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until March 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Schriver appeared in court in custody on Feb. 29 for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. He was charged by RCMP with possession of prohibited weapons, assaulting a police officer with a weapon, flight from police, dangerous driving, driving while prohibited, possession of stolen property, and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Feb. 22 in Johnville.
Police made the arrest after receiving a report of two suspicious vehicles at a residence in Johnville. Upon arrival, police saw an individual jump into a vehicle, which then rammed the police car before fleeing at a high rate of speed. Police then followed the vehicle until it eventually came to a stop. The driver exited the vehicle but was quickly apprehended by police. No one was injured during the incident.
Trial scheduled on drug trafficking charges
Keith Reid, 33, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 15 for monitoring about his trial on drug trafficking charges laid by RCMP. Trial dates were confirmed for June 3, June 10 and July 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Reid appeared in provincial court in custody in October and was denied bail. He was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a firearm (a shotgun) without a licence, and improper storage of a firearm in connection with an incident on Oct. 3, 2023, in Hartland. He also faces two counts of breaching a release order, including other matters in Fredericton. He pleaded not guilty on all counts.
A press release from the RCMP said the charges were laid after a vehicle was stopped in Woodstock, and the driver was arrested at the scene. A search of the individual led to the seizure of a quantity of crystal meth. A 19-year-old female passenger was also found in possession of meth pills and crystal meth and was released from custody until her court appearance.
Police also executed a search warrant at a residence on Main Street in Hartland, where cocaine, crystal meth, meth pills, a loaded shotgun, shotgun shells, weapons and drug paraphernalia were found as part of the investigation.
Arrested and held for bail hearing
Calvin Joseph Nicholas, 53, of Neqotkuk, was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in provincial court for plea on Feb. 27. On March 14, he waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on March 28 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with two counts of breaching his release order.
He appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Jan. 31 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Nicholas is also scheduled for trial in provincial court on June 26 at 9:30 a.m. RCMP charged him 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, but he failed to appear.
Nicholas appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 4, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He has a lengthy prior criminal record. He was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear for trial on Feb. 17, 2023.
He also failed to appear in court on Jan. 3, 2023, to answer charges of breach of probation and failing to report his whereabouts to the national sex offender registry on July 3, 2022. At his court appearance on July 18, 2023, he pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Jacksonville man awaiting plea in knife incident
Shayne Everett Cameron, 30, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for plea on multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until March 26 at 10 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
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 stolen property, theft of mail, assault with a weapon, flight from police, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, and breach of a release order.
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 tried 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 RCMP located the vehicle in Perth-Andover. 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 also appeared in court for a bail hearing on Jan. 25 and March 14 and waived his bail until later. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on Nov. 21, 2023.
Cameron also 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 was charged with breach of an undertaking on Sept. 28, 2023, and uttering threats and assaulting another man on Oct. 28, 2023, at Greenfield. He was also charged with breach of a no-contact order and obstructing police on Nov. 4, 2023, at Perth-Andover.
At an earlier court appearance, Cameron was also charged with assault, assault with a weapon and uttering threats for incidents between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13, 2023, in Woodstock, and possession of stolen property on April 11, 2023, in Woodstock. The matters were adjourned for plea until his next court appearance.
He also appeared in provincial court in September and pleaded not guilty to two other charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for July 4 at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was also scheduled for April 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Cameron was charged with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and possession of a firearm while prohibited concerning an incident on Jan. 24, 2023, at Juniper. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 19, 2023.
In custody, awaiting sentencing and plea
Brandon Cecil Armour, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 and pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching his release order. His trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Armour with breaching a release order following incidents on Jan. 7 and Feb. 6 near Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 9 for a bail hearing and waived his bail until later.
He is also awaiting sentencing on April 11 at 9:30 a.m. after changing his plea to guilty on three other charges laid by RCMP. He was charged with breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief, causing property damage to a door, and assaulting a female victim, stemming from an incident on June 8, 2022, in Beechwood.
He also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 13, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police. On March 13, his trial dates were moved to May 1 and Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Armour was charged with breach of an undertaking and failing to attend court on July 11, 2023, and theft of a vehicle and resisting arrest on Aug. 14, 2023. Woodstock Police also charged him with prowling at night and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on March 24, 2023, in Woodstock.
Armour was arrested on a warrant and appeared in court in custody on Aug. 15, 2023. He appeared on Sept. 28, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions but was brought back into custody.
