1. Newburg man sentenced to one year in jail
Jeffrey Richard Bull, 44, of Newburg, was sentenced to one year in jail, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25.
Bull pleaded guilty to 12 charges related to a drug-fuelled crime spree he conducted while in the company of a female co-accused half his age.
Judge Andrew Lemesurier also placed Bull on probation for two years and ordered him to register with the federal DNA database. Bull was also prohibited from firearms for 10 years and must seek counseling for drug addiction.
The judge said Bull must not have any contact with his co-accused, Alexandra Marie Weeks, 20, of Coldstream, or any of the victims of his crimes. Weeks was sentenced in June to five months in jail, minus time served, for her part in their string of crimes.
Bull had been in custody for 170 days prior to his sentencing. He apologized to the court for his actions, saying time in jail allowed him to get sober and clear his mind. He told the judge he was making plans to get his life back on track and wanted to return to work.
Defence Counsel Alex Pate told the judge Bull quit his job when his drug addiction grew out of control but his client was now clear-headed and “ashamed of his behaviour.” Bull is still facing a separate assault charge in Edmundston.
He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 7 and waived his bail. He was arrested by RCMP following an incident on Feb. 6 in Newburg. He was charged with breaching his release order by failing to comply with house arrest and by violating a no-contact order involving a female. He pleaded guilty to breaching his house arrest on Feb. 6.
Bull also appeared in provincial court in custody in January for a bail hearing and was released with strict conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was later brought back into custody.
He was arrested following a traffic stop on the morning of Jan. 14 on the Grafton Bridge. He was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of a stolen vehicle (a 2008 GMC Canyon), possession of stolen firearms (two shotguns and a rifle), being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, improper storage of firearms, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, breach of a release order and breach of probation.
He was also charged by RCMP with break, enter, and theft at a dwelling house, theft of firearms, and theft of a vehicle on Jan. 14 at Richmond Corner. He pleaded guilty to six charges related to the Jan. 14 incidents.
The court heard Bull and his accomplice kicked in the door of the residence, trashed the house, stole firearms and a set of keys from the premises, and left in a stolen truck.
Bull also appeared in court in custody on Jan. 4 and was remanded for a bail hearing and later released with conditions. He was charged by RCMP with indictable breach of probation, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm without a licence (a 16-gauge shotgun), possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), possession of stolen property (a 2022 Toyota Tacoma), and improper storage of a firearm. All of those charges stem from an incident in Debec on Jan. 3. The court heard the vehicle was stolen from the parking lot at the Ayr Motor Centre in Woodstock.
He was also charged with possession of another stolen vehicle for an earlier incident in Howard Brook, on Feb. 10, 2022. He pleaded guilty to these charges excluding possession of the brass knuckles. That charge was withdrawn by the crown.
The court heard Bull was found behind the wheel of a stolen truck after it left the highway in Howard Brook and landed in deep snow. Bull got out of the vehicle with the help of first responders. He was given a breathalyzer test which registered zero.
2. Youth charged in Ribfest incident
A 17-year-old male youth from Woodstock appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25 to face charges related to a weapons incident that took place during the town’s Ribfest event on the weekend.
The youth was charged with assault, uttering threats, possession of weapons dangerous to the public peace (knives, swords, and a firearm), and possession of break-in tools following an incident on July 21 at Connell Park.
He was also charged with assault with a weapon, possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and concealing a weapon (a knife) concerning an earlier incident at Woodstock High School on March 28.
Judge Andrew Lemesurier remanded the youth into custody for a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. He returns to court for a fitness hearing on Aug. 29 at 10:30 a.m. The identity of the accused is protected by a publication ban because he is under the age of 18.
3. Bail hearing for Woodstock man
Jonathon Perry Bustard, 44, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on July 25 to face three charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on July 27 at 11 a.m.
Bustard was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, indictable assault against another man, and breach of a peace bond concerning an incident on July 19 at a residence in Woodstock.
4. Remanded on charges in Fredericton
Curtis Carr, 38, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video to answer three charges by Woodstock Police.
Carr was charged with theft of gas, driving while prohibited, and breach of a release order in connection with an incident on June 20 in Grafton. The court heard he was remanded into custody on other charges in Fredericton.
5. Meductic woman awaiting plea
Tori Madeline Snow, 20, of Meductic, appeared in provincial court on July 25 for plea on several charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned to Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. to allow her more time to secure legal counsel.
Snow appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 6 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and a no-contact order to stay away from the complainants. She is residing at a residence in Windsor.
Snow was charged by RCMP with assaulting another woman with a weapon (a metal bar), uttering threats, and theft of a safe, following an incident on June 19 at Meductic. She was also charged with assault causing bodily harm to a male person, committing mischief causing property damage, and break and enter at a dwelling house with intent to commit an assault, concerning another incident on July 3 at Meductic. She was arrested and taken into custody on July 3.
6. Aroostook man facing two charges
Marc Morin, 24, of Aroostook, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Morin was charged with possession of a stolen snowmobile and obstructing a police officer in connection with an incident on March 6 in Carlingford. He made his first court appearance on July 25.
7. Woodstock man to enter plea
Tristan Mathias Kelleter, 25, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Kelleter was charged with two counts of uttering threats, concerning an incident on May 27 near Jacksonville. He appeared in provincial court on July 25 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
8. Released with conditions
Braxton Denny, 23, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25 for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Denny was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, concerning an incident on Feb. 18 in Woodstock.
Denny is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on March 4, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP.
Denny was charged with committing mischief causing property damage and breach of an undertaking on Dec. 9, 2022, at Upper Woodstock; two counts of assault and committing mischief causing property damage on Dec. 8, 2022, at Upper Woodstock. Denny entered his not-guilty pleas at a court appearance on April 25.
9. Warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Kristopher Joseph McConnell, 31, of Hartland, after he failed to appear in provincial court for plea on July 25.
McConnell appeared in provincial court in custody on June 27 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
McConnell was charged by RCMP with possession of stolen property (an ATV) and breach of probation in connection with an incident on June 26 at Lansdowne. He is able to attend work as part of his conditions for release but must follow a curfew.
10. Returning to court for plea
Curtis Brent Hatheway, 43, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He appeared in court on July 25 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 is 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.
11. Hartland man awaiting plea
Silas Robert Burtt, 22, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on July 25 for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 8 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Burtt appeared in provincial court in custody on July 10 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was charged by RCMP with possession of stolen goods and breach of probation, concerning an incident on July 9 in East Brighton.
12. In custody on multiple charges
Mitchell Sutthery, 36, of Arthurette, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25 to set a trial date after pleading not guilty to all charges. His trial date was set for Oct. 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Defence Counsel Michael Mallory told the court a resolution may be forthcoming on the charges by his client’s next court appearance.
Sutthery appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 24 after being arrested on a warrant. He was charged by RCMP with breach of a release order by cutting off his ankle bracelet, and resisting arrest on May 18; breach of a release order on May 5 at Arthurette; and breach of a release order by failing to appear in court on May 16.
RCMP also charged him with breach of a release order by failing to follow a curfew for an incident on April 14 at Arthurette and break and enter at a dwelling house on April 26 at Perth-Andover.
He also appeared in provincial court on April 18 for plea on other charges laid by RCMP. Those matters were also adjourned until May 16 but he did not attend.
Sutthery was charged by RCMP with break and enter at the St-Helen Anglican Church, committing mischief causing property damage to a church door, assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and assaulting an on-duty police dog, concerning an incident on March 25 at Arthurette.
On May 1, he appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was arrested soon after and taken back into custody. On May 26, he waived his bail until a later date.
13. Neqotkuk man facing charges
Dylan Thibodeau, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on July 25 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
Thibodeau appeared in provincial court in custody on June 26 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to report to the police weekly and must stay away from Neqotkuk. He is residing at a residence in Beechwood.
Thibodeau was charged by RCMP with assaulting a female victim, assault by choking, and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on June 21 at Neqotkuk. As part of his release, he must follow a curfew, have no contact with the alleged victim, and cannot have any firearms, weapons, drugs, or alcohol in his possession.
14. Trial set for Neqotkuk man
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. A monitoring date was also set for Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed to trial.
Schloemer appeared in provincial court in custody on June 26 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including house arrest. He appeared in provincial court in custody on June 22 after being arrested on a warrant. He was charged by RCMP with resisting arrest on June 21 at Neqotkuk; two counts of assaulting police on June 21 at Williamstown; and break and enter at a dwelling house on Oct. 3, 2021, at Neqotkuk.
15. Bail hearing scheduled
Amber Holt, 32, of Bluebell, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 25 after being arrested on a warrant. She was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on July 27 at 1 p.m.
Holt was charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm without a licence (.22 Magnum rifle) and careless use of a firearm for an incident on June 22, 2022, in Weaver. A warrant was issued for Holt when she failed to appear in court for plea on the firearm charges.
An earlier warrant was also issued for her in January after she failed to appear in provincial court to answer charges of flight from police and driving while suspended. She appeared in court in custody by video on Jan. 5 but was released after completing her sentence on charges in Fredericton. She is still facing a theft charge and four fraud-related charges stemming from other separate incidents.
16. Neqotkuk man returning for plea
Aaron Barclay Moulton, 38, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on July 25 to enter a plea on four charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Moulton appeared in provincial court in custody on April 24 and was released with conditions. He was charged by RCMP with assault, committing mischief, possession of a prohibited weapon (a taser), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace following an incident on April 23 at Neqotkuk. He was ordered to report to the police weekly, stay away from the community youth centre, and have no weapons, alcohol, or drugs in his possession.
17. Trial rescheduled for Clearview man
Clay Nicholson, 25, of Clearview, will appear for trial in provincial court on Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to four charges laid by RCMP.
The trial was scheduled for July 27 but was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel. Nicholson was charged with uttering threats, assault, mischief, and dangerous driving.
18. Trial date set for Moncton man
Adam James Finnamore, 28, of Moncton, will appear for trial in provincial court on Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to one charge laid by RCMP. The trial was scheduled for July 26 but was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
On Tuesday, the court heard the defence was still trying to contact Finnamore to prepare for trial. He was charged with assault causing bodily harm to another man concerning an incident on May 6, 2022, at Upper Kent. A warrant is being held on file until his next court date.
19. Hearing required to reverse guilty plea
Emily McSheffrey, 27, of Waterville, appeared in provincial court on July 25 for sentencing on five charges and told the court she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea on one of them.
To reverse her plea, McSheffrey must prove she was unaware of the allegations and the charge; that she was unaware of the effect and consequences of her guilty plea; that her plea was not made voluntarily, and that her plea was equivocal in nature.
A hearing will be held on Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m. Her sentencing was postponed until after the hearing. At an earlier court appearance, the crown informed the court a period of incarceration was being sought for the accused.
McSheffrey pleaded guilty in January to assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and fraudulent impersonation to avoid arrest, mischief, and assault with a weapon (a rock) involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Nov. 13, 2021, in Wicklow. After entering her guilty plea, she also agreed to sign a six-month peace bond.
She told the court on Tuesday she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea on the charge involving the rock. Defence Counsel Brent Dickinson also asked to be removed as her solicitor of record, telling the court his client would be seeking future counsel through legal aid.
McSheffrey appeared in provincial court in custody on April 5 and was released with conditions. She was charged by RCMP with uttering threats and breach of an undertaking following an incident on April 3 at Wicklow. The charges involve a male complainant. She was also charged with assault for an incident on Feb. 21. She pleaded not guilty and her trial date was set for April 24, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
She also pleaded not guilty to a series of other charges and a trial date was set for Sept. 14 at 1:30 p.m. She was charged with uttering threats on July 6, 2022, in Waterville and refusing a breathalyzer, mischief, uttering threats, and assaulting a police officer on Aug. 29, 2022, in Jacksonville.
McSheffrey will also appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 17 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to another offense. She entered her plea at a court appearance on Jan. 10. She appeared in court in custody in November and was charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000 in relation to a break-in at a tarp shed in Woodstock on Nov. 8, 2022. She was arrested at a gas station in Bath while traveling as a passenger in a stolen 2016 Polaris RZR side-by-side.
20. Decision reserved after trial
Arshdeep Singh Khasria, 24, of Bedell, appeared in provincial court for the conclusion of his trial on July 20 after pleading not guilty to a sex charge laid by RCMP. The trial verdict was reserved until Sept. 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Khasria was charged with sexual assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on June 16, 2022, near Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty to the charge at a court appearance last fall. The trial involved a day and a half of testimony.
21. Nabbed a block from the courthouse
Jesse Sharp-Yerxa of Woodstock appeared in provincial court on July 25 to answer a charge of driving while suspended laid by Woodstock Police.
The court heard she had a prior record of convictions for the same offence with fines totaling $3,800. Yerxa said she didn’t know she owed so much in fines.
“It is what it is,” Yerxa told the court. “I’m guilty.”
Judge Andrew Lemesurier fined Yerxa another $1,000 for her latest offence of driving while suspended on March 14, bringing her total up to $4,800.
The judge told Yerxa she will eventually go to jail if she doesn’t stop her driving infractions. Yerxa was pregnant at her court appearance on Tuesday and told the judge she was due to deliver her baby by cesarean section in the next two weeks.
A few minutes after her departure from the court, a police officer came back into the courtroom to inform the crown Yerxa was just nabbed behind the wheel once again about a block from the courthouse. She is expected to return to court on another charge of driving while suspended after she gives birth.
