Michaud found guilty of drug trafficking
Walter Patrick (Ricky) Michaud, 43, of Debec, was found guilty of drug trafficking when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 for a verdict following his trial. A federal prison sentence is expected as a result of the guilty verdict.
Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean also found Michaud guilty of possession of a stolen vehicle. A sentencing date was set for Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m. for all files pertaining to the accused. He will appear in court in person for his sentencing hearing.
Michaud was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident around midnight on March 11, 2022, in Teeds Mills. He was also charged with possession of stolen property (a 2013 Hyundai Elantra) due to the same incident. He pleaded not guilty, and the matter went to trial in June.
During the trial, the court heard Michaud was found in possession of a significant quantity of methamphetamine in pre-packed bags, along with $3,365 in cash and two cell phones. Judge McLean said this evidence indicated Michaud was a “street to mid-level drug trafficker.”
Michaud appeared in provincial court in custody for trial on Aug. 30 and changed his plea to guilty on all other remaining charges laid against him by RCMP.
The court denied Michaud bail and remanded him to jail in October on nine charges stemming from the day of his arrest on Sept. 27, 2022, at Bull’s Creek, including possession of a firearm without a licence (a Ruger 10/22 rifle), being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a loaded gun, improper transport of a firearm, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, flight from police, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a vehicle), possession of stolen property (a Dodge Ram truck), and resisting arrest.
Police also charged him with assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from police, and dangerous driving on Sept. 18, 2022, in Meductic.
Michaud also appeared in provincial court in custody on July 21 for a verdict following two other trials. He was found guilty of flight from police, dangerous driving, and possession of stolen property (a Ford 150 half-ton) for an incident on Sept. 16, 2022, in Woodstock. The charges related to a police chase in Woodstock.
More charges included assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a bush saw) and resisting arrest on Sept. 6, 2022, in Debec. Michaud was found guilty on both counts.
Michaud also faced charges of assaulting a woman in Debec on Aug. 27, 2022. The court found him not guilty of the assault on June 29 after the alleged victim failed to appear to testify at the trial.
Two Grand Falls women charged with drug trafficking
Two women from Grand Falls appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 to answer multiple counts of drug trafficking.
Lori Guest and Amber Gaunce stood together before Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean in Woodstock to answer five charges. The RCMP charged both with possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, nabilone, clonazepam, and magic mushrooms, all for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2 in Grand Falls.
Guest and Gaunce return to court for plea on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. Both women have now secured legal counsel.
Guilty of robbery with violence
Janis Buchanan, 27, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 and pleaded guilty to robbery with violence for an incident on May 29 at Florenceville-Bristol. The court set a sentencing date for Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.m.
The theft involved a car, wallet and cell phone.
A co-accused, Wyatt DeLong, 28, of Cloverdale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 for plea on four charges. His matter was adjourned until Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged DeLong with discharging a firearm with intent, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation in connection with an incident on July 14 at Florenceville-Bristol when shots were allegedly fired at a police officer.
Police arrested Buchanan and DeLong after a manhunt in Victoria County in connection with a series of incidents in the upper river valley.
Suspended sentence, probation for assault
Clay Nicholson, 27, of Woodstock, formerly of Clearview, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 and received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to assault. He was also fined $100.
Police charged Nicholson with uttering threats, assault, mischief, and dangerous driving. He changed his plea to guilty on the assault, and the crown withdrew the rest of the charges.
The court heard the charges were laid by RCMP following a road rage incident when Nicholson punched another man three times in the head. He was ordered to seek counselling for anger management and must have no contact with the complainant. The accused had a prior criminal record.
Sentencing set for Woodstock man
Jonathon Perry Bustard, 44, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 and pleaded guilty to three charges by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for Oct. 24 at 1:30 p.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. He waived his bail at a court appearance on July 27.
Hartland woman faces sentencing
Amber Dawn Shaw, 33, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on theft charges on Sept. 26. The matter was adjourned until Oct. 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Shaw pleaded guilty to theft from Napa Auto Parts and theft from the New Brunswick Liquor Store on June 20 in Woodstock. Defence Counsel Michael Mallory told the court he needed more time to review a pre-sentence report with the accused. Napa Auto Parts submitted a request for $145 in restitution.
Trial set on impaired driving charge
Jean Paul Lutwick, 44, of East Newbridge, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 3, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to impaired driving.
Woodstock Police charged Lutwick following an incident on April 6 in Woodstock. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 19. A monitoring date to confirm he will be ready for trial was set for April 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
Bairdsville man facing one charge
Regis Bowmaster, 30, of Bairdsville, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
The RCMP charged Bowmaster with possession of a stolen snowmobile concerning an incident on April 2 in Wicklow. He made his first court appearance on Sept. 19 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
20 days in jail or time served
Steven Frank Powers, 60, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 and pleaded guilty to breach of probation. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail or time served and was released from custody. Powers was also placed on probation for six months.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 14. RCMP charged him with breach of probation following an incident at a residence in Plaster Rock. Powers was ordered to have no contact with the complainants and to stay away from the residence.
Back in custody in Saint John
Andrew Joseph St. Peter, 31, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26. He told the court he was in custody for an alleged breach of his release order and was in jail in Saint John.
St. Peter appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 30 and was released with conditions. On Sept. 26, he told the court he was not ready to answer charges due to suffering a recent medical emergency at the jail. All matters were adjourned until Oct. 10 at 11:30 a.m.
St. Peter appeared in provincial court in custody on July 26 on a weapons charge related to an incident in the village on July 22. RCMP charged him with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a firearm). He was arrested after police received reports of a suspect carrying a weapon in the village.
St. Peter was also slated for plea on charges under the SPCA Act. He was charged by SPCA officers with willful neglect of an animal and failing to provide medical attention to a dog concerning incidents on Jan. 1-2 in Plaster Rock. In June, the court heard St. Peter had been admitted to the Restigouche hospital and could not attend court.
Trial set for Neqotkuk woman
Nicole Perley, 39, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 9, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges.
Perley was charged by RCMP with break and enter at a dwelling house and assault involving another woman in connection with an incident on June 22 at Neqotkuk.
She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 19. She was released on an undertaking and ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Sentencing set on two charges
Robert Michael Raynes, 40, of Saint John, will appear in provincial court for sentencing on Sept. 28 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Raynes was charged with possession of stolen property from the Walmart Store and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on Sept. 7 in Woodstock.
He was also charged with breaching a conditional sentence order for an incident on Sept. 8. He pleaded guilty, and a hearing will be held when he returns to court for sentencing on Sept. 28.
Raynes appeared in court in custody by video on Sept. 19 and told the court he was already in custody for other matters in Saint John.
Charged with leaving accident scene
Deidra Fowler, 50, of Woodstock First Nation, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
Police charged Fowler with failing to stop at the scene of an accident concerning an incident on May 27 at Woodstock First Nation. She made a court appearance on Sept. 26 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Awaiting plea for impaired driving
Adam Gordon Harris, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Harris was charged with refusing a breathalyzer and impaired driving in connection with an incident on May 24 near Florenceville-Bristol. He made a court appearance on Sept. 26 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged with stealing gas
Emily Anne Crandlemire, 30, of Windsor, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Crandlemire was charged with driving while suspended and stealing gas from the Irving Station in Florenceville-Bristol on May 12. She was scheduled to appear in court on Sept. 26 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Returning to court on several charges
Brady Melvin Crain, 27, of Wicklow, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 to answer several charges laid by RCMP. All matters were adjourned until Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Crain appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 6 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was arrested on a warrant on Aug. 28 for failing to appear for sentencing.
Crain was charged with assault on a female victim and breach of an emergency intervention order concerning incidents on April 29, 2021, and March 14, 2021, in Woodstock. RCMP also charged him with breach of a release order on Dec. 6, 2021, at Mount Pleasant. He pleaded guilty, and a sentencing date was set for July 27, but he failed to appear.
Crain appeared in provincial court on April 18 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Jan. 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
Crain was charged on April 4 with breaching his release order. He also appeared in provincial court on March 16 on charges of breach of an undertaking, committing mischief, and taking a vehicle without consent in connection with incidents on Aug. 29, 2022, and Oct. 28, 2022, at Perth-Andover.
Arrested and released with conditions
Cole Gray of Upper Kintore appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 25 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Gray was arrested after he failed to appear in provincial court on Sept. 5 to answer two assault charges. RCMP charged him with assault involving a female victim and breach of an undertaking concerning an incident on June 13 at Kintore.
Awaiting plea on assault charge
Kathryn Graham, 26, of Grafton, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 to answer an assault charge. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
RCMP charged Graham with assault on a minor in connection with an incident on May 1 in Grafton.
Pembroke man to enter plea
Joshua Adam Demerchant, 34, of Pembroke, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m. to enter a plea on two charges. He appeared in court on Sept. 26 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Demerchant was charged by RCMP with possession of stolen property (an ATV) and failing to stop for police in connection with an incident on July 12 near Hartland.
Woodstock man awaiting plea
Braxton Denny, 23, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 to answer charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Denny appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 11 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house and committing mischief 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.
He was arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court and was released with conditions. Denny entered his not-guilty pleas at a court appearance on April 25.
Plea delayed for Neqotkuk man
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Sept. 26 to answer a charge of failing to appear. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Schloemer was arrested on a warrant when he came to court on Aug. 29 for monitoring about his trial. He was held in jail for the day and then released with conditions. The warrant was issued for failing to appear in court in December.
Schloemer will also appear for trial in provincial court on Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by RCMP. RCMP charged him 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.
Arrest warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Ashley Marie Bernard, 39, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), after she failed to appear in provincial court for sentencing on Sept. 26.
RCMP charged Bernard with breach of probation following an incident on June 2 at Neqotkuk. As part of her release, she was ordered to obey a no-contact order and attend court as required. She pleaded guilty at a court appearance in June.
Awaiting plea on two charges
Joseph Sockabasin of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) will appear in provincial court on Oct. 24 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two assault charges.
RCMP charged Sockabasin with two counts of assault with a weapon (a paintball gun) in connection with an incident on June 25 at Neqotkuk. The charges involve two minors.
Trial date set on three charges
Memphis Tompkins, 19, of Tilley, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 24, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to three charges.
RCMP charged Tompkins with aggravated assault, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and uttering threats for a recent incident at Aroostook. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 26. Tompkins was arrested on Sept. 5 and released with conditions including house arrest.
Facing theft charge
Sheila Ann Paul, 55, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on April 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a theft charge.
Woodstock Police charged Paul with stealing from the Atlantic Superstore for an incident on April 20 in Woodstock. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 19.
Remanded following bail hearing
Jacob Jinson, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 25 for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. He returns to court in custody for plea on Oct. 11 at 1:30 p.m. on a charge of breaching his release order.
Jinson appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 22 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. RCMP charged him with breach of a release order by failing to follow a curfew in connection with an incident on Aug. 20 in Mainstream.
Jinson also appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 14 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. The RCMP charged Jinson with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) concerning an incident on July 30 in Mainstream. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for June 26, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.
On June 26, Jinson and Riley Cowper, 19, of Limestone, elected trial by judge and jury on charges of indictable sexual assault and unlawful confinement. Their 10-day trial will be held at the Court of King’s Bench beginning on Sept. 23, 2024.
Jinson appeared in custody by video on April 3. RCMP charged him with sexual assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, and indictable breach of probation concerning an incident on March 26 at Limestone. He was released with strict conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was also ordered to follow a curfew.
Cowper appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 5 for a bail hearing and was released with strict conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. RCMP charged him with sexual assault involving a female victim, unlawful confinement, and breach of probation in connection with the same incident on March 26 at Limestone.
Cowper also faces a charge for another incident at Limestone last year. RCMP charged him with assault with a weapon (a hammer and tire iron) involving another man on March 23, 2022.
Cowper pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, and a trial date for provincial court was set for Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
