Sentencing set for theft, driving offences
Connell McLean, 30, of Centreville, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody via video on March 11 and changed his plea to guilty on seven charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing date was set for April 7 at 1:30 p.m.
McLean pleaded guilty to two counts of fleeing from police and dangerous driving for incidents on July 15 and July 16, 2025, in Wilmot.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen side-by-side, altering the vehicle’s serial number, and flight from police on July 22, 2025, at Wilmot, and to resisting arrest on July 25, 2025, at Summerfield. McLean has a prior criminal record.
He was denied bail on July 28, 2025, after being arrested on a warrant. Police had been on a manhunt for McLean since the warrant was issued on July 17, 2025. He has been in custody for the last eight months.
Change of plea expected
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, of Benton, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 9 for trial on multiple charges, but the matter was adjourned until later this week.
Defence Counsel Tim Murphy said a resolution was being sought with the Crown and recommended the case be adjourned to March 11. Hayes stormed out of the courtroom with the sheriffs, complaining about the delay.
On March 11, Hayes appeared in custody via video and told the court he intended to change his plea to guilty on several of the charges but wanted to appear in person. After further discussion with his lawyer, the matter was adjourned again until March 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Crown Prosecutor Sean Corscadden said he was optimistic most of Hayes’ charges could be resolved by that time, although a trial could be held for any remaining.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, uttering threats, and breach of a release order (ankle bracelet) on July 25, 2025, in Woodstock; two counts of breach of a release order, flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, mischief causing damage to a police vehicle in Benton; flight from police and dangerous driving on July 25, 2025, at Teeds Mill; and criminal harassment through text messages on June 22, 2025, at Bairdsville.
He also pleaded not guilty to obstructing police following an incident on Aug. 15, 2025, near Meductic when a male suspect jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody.
Hayes also pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14, 2025, in Benton and theft of gas on Aug. 14, 2025, in Debec. Hayes has a lengthy prior criminal record.
Held for bail hearing
Austin Powers, 26, of Beaconsfield, appeared in court in custody via teleconference on March 11 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear for sentencing on Feb. 3.
Judge Rose Campbell remanded him to jail to await a bail hearing on March 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Powers appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Nov. 6, 2025, and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by the RCMP. He was released with conditions to await his sentencing, but did not return to court.
Powers was denied bail on June 6, 2025. He was charged with two counts of breaching a recognizance on May 15 and May 20 at Plaster Rock; assault while threatening to use a weapon (a wooden mallet), assault involving a female victim, two counts of uttering threats, breaching an order not to have weapons in his possession on May 21 at Plaster Rock; and resisting arrest and uttering threats to police on May 23 at Plaster Rock. Powers has a prior criminal record.
He pleaded guilty to both counts of breaching a recognizance, resisting arrest and uttering threats to police. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on the assault charges. The remaining charges will be withdrawn by the Crown. A sentence of time served was expected for the accused.
Sentencing in June
Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Rosedale, appeared in provincial court on March 10 and pleaded guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was booked for June 9 at 1:30 p.m.
Nowlan was charged with possession of a stolen motorcycle and altering a vehicle identification number on Aug. 5, 2025; flight from police on April 30, 2025; and fraud under $5,000 on Dec. 2, 2024, at TD Bank in Woodstock.
Bail hearing adjourned
Joshua Jarrett, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 9 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until March 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Jarrett pleaded not guilty on March 5 to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for June 8 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged by the RCMP with flight from police, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, breach of probation and driving while suspended on Feb. 5 in Woodstock; and theft of a truck on Feb. 5 in East Brighton.
Arrested and released
Miguel Downer of Perth-Andover appeared in provincial court in custody for bail hearing on March 9 after being arrested for failing to attend court on March 3. He was released with conditions and returns to court for his trial on June 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Downer pleaded not guilty to possession of a stolen motorcycle on Aug. 7, 2024, in Wilmot. The charge was laid by the RCMP.
Trial set on theft charges
Nathan Aaron Sewell, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on March 10 and pleaded not guilty to four charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for April 5, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Sewell appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 15, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, breaching an undertaking (not to drive any vehicle), indictable possession of a stolen ATV, and obstructing police on Dec. 7, 2025, at Wilmot. He has a prior criminal record.
Facing new charges
Rodney Baker, 62, of Upper Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on March 10 to answer four new charges laid by Woodstock Police. His plea was adjourned until April 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Baker was charged with breaching a no-contact order, resisting arrest, possession of a concealed weapon, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace concerning an incident on Feb. 14 in Woodstock.
He also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 17 for a monitoring hearing about his trial on a separate assault charge. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial booked for January 2027 was cancelled.
Baker was charged by the RCMP with assaulting a female victim following an incident on Dec. 17, 2025, in Upper Woodstock. The peace bond will result in the assault charge being withdrawn.
Returning for plea
Chad Brooker, 36, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on March 10 for plea on an assault charge. The matter was adjourned until April 7 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Brooker was charged by the RCMP concerning an incident on Dec. 15, 2025, in Williamstown.
At an earlier court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose and invitation to sexual touching in connection with an incident between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2024, at Centreville. His trial was set for April 1-2, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. A pre-trial conference was also booked for Jan. 5, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Charged with impaired
Aubrey Corey, 65, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on March 10 to answer an impaired driving charge. At the request of defence counsel Ron Morris, his plea was adjourned until April 7 at 9:30 a.m.
Corey was charged by Woodstock Police in connection with an incident on Aug. 17, 2025, in Woodstock.
Debec man charged
Bradley MacFarlane, 39, of Debec, will appear in provincial court on April 7 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
MacFarlane was charged with uttering threats and dangerous driving following an incident on Oct. 24, 2025, in Woodstock. He was scheduled to answer the charge on March 10, but the matter was adjourned to the new date at his lawyer’s request.
Plea adjourned on seven charges
Joshua Alexander Russell, 36, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on April 14 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on seven charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was scheduled to appear in court on March 10, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Russell was charged with assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, two counts of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, mischief causing property damage to a wall, and breach of a release order following an incident in Woodstock on Feb. 7. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainants.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Feb. 12 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Nova Scotia.
Russell also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 3 and pleaded not guilty to a breach charge. His trial was set for Jan. 13, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Russell was charged by Woodstock Police with breaching his release order stemming from an incident between Dec. 11 and Dec. 12, 2025, in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 16, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. Russell also pleaded not guilty to six other charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Jan. 13-14, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Russell was charged with two counts of breaking into a dwelling house, breach of an emergency intervention order, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, theft of a motor vehicle, and driving while suspended in connection with an incident on Sept. 21, 2025, in Woodstock. He has a prior criminal record.
Trafficking in fentanyl
Stephen Mohan, 44, of St. Stephen, appeared in provincial court on March 10 to answer a series of charges laid by the RCMP. His plea was adjourned until April 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Mohan was charged with possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking on Oct. 17, 2025, in Canterbury, and possession of unstamped tobacco on Oct. 17, 2025, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). He is also facing other drug charges in Fredericton.
The court issued an arrest warrant for a co-accused, Candace Parker, 42, of St. Stephen, who failed to appear in court on Feb. 10. Parker is also facing additional charges of uttering threats, assault, and robbery with violence related to the Oct. 17, 2025, incident at Wotstak.
Mohan appeared in provincial court on Dec. 16, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to three other charges, but guilty to one other charge of resisting arrest. His trial date was set for Jan. 11, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Oct. 30, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released on conditions. He was charged with possession of a weapon (a knife) dangerous to the public peace, uttering threats, and robbery of a motor vehicle using violence, concerning an incident on Oct. 17, 2025, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). He was also charged with resisting arrest on Oct. 17, 2025, at Canterbury. His sentencing on that charge will be dealt with after his trial.
Trial on sex charges
Benjamin Greer, 27, of Weston, appeared in provincial court on March 10 for a monitoring hearing about his trial in May on sex charges laid by the RCMP. The court heard some disclosure was still pending from the Crown. Another monitoring hearing was scheduled for April 7 at 9:30 a.m.
Greer appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 13, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He pleaded not guilty to several charges, and his trial was set for May 7, 8, and 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Greer was charged with sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose, making sexually explicit material available to a minor, invitation to sexual touching, accessing child pornography, and using a computer system to facilitate an offence in connection with incidents between Aug. 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025. at Teeds Mill. He also faces an additional charge of uttering threats to a female victim. As part of his release, Greer was ordered to have no contact with the complainants. He was placed under house arrest with permission to attend work.
Dead Creek man awaiting trial
Bradley Collicott, 51, of Dead Creek, appeared in provincial court on March 10 for a monitoring hearing about his trial in June. He told the court he was still without legal counsel, so another monitoring hearing was scheduled for May 19 at 9:30 a.m.
At an earlier court appearance, Collicott pleaded not guilty to an assault charge and his trial was scheduled for June 15 at 1:30 p.m. He was charged by the RCMP with assault involving a female victim following an incident on Nov. 3, 2024, at Dead Creek.
Sentencing reset
Bryden Till, 20, of Perth-Andover, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on June 16 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to a threat charge.
Till was charged by the RCMP with uttering threats against another man in connection with an incident on March 3 at Perth-Andover. He was scheduled to be sentenced on March 10 when the matter was adjourned to allow for the completion of a pre-sentence report.
At an earlier court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of dangerous driving and will stand trial on May 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Trafficking and gun charges
Samuel Robert Crewe, 31, and Timothy Brian Wheelan, 39, both of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 10 to deal with drug and gun charges laid by local police.
They pleaded not guilty on all counts, and trial dates were set for July 27 at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 10 and Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m., and Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
The RCMP charged the two accused with possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and fentanyl, all for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents between June 1 and June 13, 2025, in Jacksonville.
Crewe also has 13 gun charges related to the same incident in June 2025. Wheelan pleaded not guilty to 42 related gun charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Wheelan was denied bail on Nov. 20, 2025. He was also charged by the RCMP with breach of a peace bond, possession of a stolen utility trailer, resisting arrest, dangerous driving, and flight from police on Nov. 17, 2025, in Meductic. He is also facing four threat charges.
Crewe was sentenced to three years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 26. He pleaded guilty to a raft of drug and theft charges, as well as driving offences, laid by Woodstock Police and the RCMP. He had a prior criminal record.
Trial in November
Makayla Phillips, 22, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on March 10 for monitoring about her trial. She pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP, and her trial date was set for Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Phillips was charged with uttering threats and mischief, causing property damage to a house in an incident on Jan. 24, 2025, at Richmond Settlement. Another monitoring hearing was scheduled for March 24 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm that all disclosure issues are resolved before her trial.
Warrant on file
Jacob Jinson, 26, of Somerville, was scheduled to appear in provincial court on March 10 for plea on a stolen property charge laid by Woodstock Police. He failed to appear, and a warrant was held on file.
On Feb. 17, Jinson was charged with possession of stolen property (a Husqvarna whipper snipper) on Oct. 30, 2025, in Woodstock.
Another individual, Christopher Mean, 36, of Woodstock, also appeared in court on Feb. 17 on a charge of having a stolen Husqvarna whipper snipper on the same date. He returns to court for plea on March 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Limestone incident
Steven Dolk, 54, of Moncton, will appear in provincial court on April 7 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a sex charge laid by the RCMP.
Dolk was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident on June 28, 2021, at Limestone. He made his first court appearance on March 10 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Three charged with theft
Three individuals have been charged in connection with a string of thefts in the Woodstock area. Two of the accused have transferred their files to Fredericton, where they are facing other charges.
Michael Ronald McKee, 25, of Woodstock, appeared in court in custody via video on March 10 and told the court he intended to plead guilty to all charges. He requested that his file be transferred to Fredericton, where he is facing other charges. A monitoring hearing was set for April 7 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm the transfer has been completed.
McKee and Bastian Kitchener Bradbury, 19, of Fredericton, were each charged with breaking into a woodworking shop on Searle Street in Woodstock, possession of stolen tools, possession of a stolen vehicle (a Mazda CX5), possession of break-in tools, and prowling at night on Nov. 24, 2025. Bradbury also faces a charge of wearing a mask while committing an offence.
McKee waived his bail until later. He was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle for an incident on Nov. 5, 2025, at Bedell.
Both men were also charged with theft of copper wire on Nov. 24, 2025, from the back of a truck at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). The court heard the two are also facing other charges in Fredericton.
Bradbury appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Feb. 5 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions to a rehab facility near Sussex.
On March 10, Bradbury appeared in provincial court via teleconference and requested that all of his files be transferred to Fredericton. A new theft charge was also laid in connection with an incident on Nov. 24, 2025, at the Petro Canada near Meductic. A monitoring hearing was scheduled for April 7 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm that his file transfer has been completed.
Madison Anderson, 20, of Fredericton, formerly of Plaster Rock, was charged with two counts of theft on Nov. 24, 2025, at the Petro Canada near Meductic. She is also charged in connection with a copper wire theft at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) on the same date. She returns to court for plea on March 18 at 9:30 a.m.
