Canada Pension fraud nets 15-month conditional sentence and restitution
A Carlow senior must refund the federal government thousands of dollars for cheating on his Canada Pension disability benefits.
Edwin Norman Pardy, 65, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Dec. 10 after pleading guilty to an indictable fraud charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Chief Judge Brian C. McLean ordered him to pay $42,960 in restitution to the federal government. Pardy was also handed a 15-month conditional sentence, including seven months of house arrest, with permission to attend work, and eight months of following a curfew. He was also placed on 12 months of probation.
Pardy was charged with defrauding Service Canada concerning incidents between July 27, 2017, and Nov. 26, 2021, at Woodstock. The court heard he was receiving disability benefits but returned to work part-time as a truck driver without reporting his earnings. He had no prior criminal record.
Defence Counsel Brent Dickinson said Pardy was injured in 2011 and was then diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He returned to work out of necessity but failed to report his earnings for about four years.
Dickinson said Pardy was receiving the Old Age Pension (OAS) but expected Service Canada to garnish the full amount of $800 per month for the debt he owed from the disability fraud.
Dickinson said his client was remorseful for his actions and was working as a truck driver despite his health problems. Pardy was also fined $200.
Woodstock RCMP officer facing five charges
Constable Christopher Sorensen, 44, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on theft charges and one count of breach of trust.
Sorensen was scheduled for plea on Oct. 30 but the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow his defence counsel to further review the disclosure of evidence from the crown.
The police officer faces four counts of theft and one count of breach of trust in connection with missing and unaccounted-for exhibits, including cash, seized during a recent crime investigation. Sorensen was a member of the Provincial Crime Reduction Unit.
The charges against him followed an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), an agency that independently investigates accusations against police officers in New Brunswick. The investigation by SIRT was launched in April.
90 days in jail for Powers
Steven Frank Powers, 60, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for sentencing on Dec. 10 and pleaded guilty to one charge laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, minus time served.
Powers appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 1 and waived his bail until later. He pleaded guilty to breach of probation in connection with an incident on Oct. 30 in Plaster Rock. He was ordered to have no contact with the female complainant. Powers had a lengthy prior criminal record.
Held for bail hearing
Robert McFarlane, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Dec. 10 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m.
McFarlane was charged by RCMP with assaulting another man on April 4 at Florenceville-Bristol, and breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and breach of an undertaking on May 4 in Johnville. He was arrested on a warrant on June 27 and released with conditions.
On Aug. 20, he appeared in provincial court to set a date for his trial after pleading not guilty. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 3 when he failed to appear.
As part of his release, McFarlane was ordered to follow a curfew, have no contact with the complainant and stay away from a residence in Johnville. He was also prohibited from the use of firearms.
Warrant issued for Lakeville man
The court issued another arrest warrant for Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, after he failed to appear in court to answer new charges on Dec. 10.
Stewart failed to appear in court for plea on Oct. 30 and an arrest warrant was also issued at that time. He was charged with two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8 in Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody via teleconference on Oct. 22 and was released with conditions.
He was also charged with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25 in Killoween and possession of stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He is still awaiting plea on those charges as well.
Sentencing set on two charges
James Earle Dow, 47, of Dow Settlement, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 6 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for March 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Dow was charged with driving while prohibited and refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident on May 14, 2023, at Dow Settlement.
Charges withdrawn
Paul Rideout, 47, of Coldstream, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 2 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. The crown withdrew the charges and the trial was cancelled.
Rideout was charged with possession of several firearms without a licence and improper storage of firearms in connection with an incident on Oct. 23, 2023, at Coldstream. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Feb. 13.
Warrant on file
Tristan Alexander Calhoun, 38, of Woodstock, was scheduled to appear in provincial court on Dec. 10 for plea on an assault charge. He did not attend and a warrant will be held on file until his next court appearance on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Calhoun was charged by Woodstock Police with assaulting a woman, stemming from an incident between March 31 and Oct. 30 in Woodstock.
Neqotkuk man to stand trial
Austin Aube, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court in custody on Dec. 13 at 9:30 a.m. to set a new date for his trial. He was scheduled for trial on Dec. 9 but the matter was adjourned to the new date at the crown’s request.
Aube appeared in court in custody by video on Aug. 29 and waived his bail until later. He was charged with flight from police, two counts of assaulting a police officer with a weapon (an ATV), resisting arrest, dangerous driving, possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, and breach of an undertaking on July 28 at Neqotkuk; driving while suspended and flight from police on July 12 at Neqotkuk; assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a female victim, assault by choking, and resisting arrest on May 8 at Neqotkuk. He was arrested on a warrant.
Crown called no evidence
Nicole Perley, 39, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 9 after pleading not guilty to two charges. The crown called no evidence and Perley received a directed verdict of not guilty.
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 2, 2023, at Neqotkuk.
Murder charge in Nova Scotia
A Perth-Andover man is facing a murder charge in Nova Scotia while also awaiting plea on charges in Woodstock.
Patrick James Denny, 29, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 10 to answer charges laid by RCMP. He told the court he was currently serving a federal prison sentence and was also facing new charges in Nova Scotia.
Denny returns to court in custody for plea in Woodstock on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. on charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited, and possession of a firearm without a licence, concerning an incident on Nov. 15, 2022, in Hartland.
On Oct. 21, Denny was charged by Halifax RCMP with second-degree murder and committing an indignity to human remains in connection with a homicide that occurred in East Preston, Nova Scotia, on Aug. 30, 2022.
The charges were laid in Dartmouth Provincial Court after police responded to a report of a suspicious van parked behind a strip mall in East Preston. Inside the vehicle, RCMP discovered the body of Barry Angus Studley of Middle Sackville. Denny and Studley were known to each other.
In May 2023, Denny was sentenced in Woodstock to a total of three and a half years in federal prison for his involvement in a police chase near Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) that involved weapons and assaulting a police officer. Denny was on parole when he was arrested. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 21, 2022, and waived his bail.
Sentencing delayed on sex charge
A River de Chute man, facing jail on a sex charge, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 for a hearing about withdrawing his guilty plea.
Martin Sargefield, 30, was charged by RCMP with touching a female minor for a sexual purpose (indictable) between July 1, 2016, and July 22, 2022. He pleaded guilty and the evidence against him was read into the record by the crown. The court heard about a series of sexual acts involving Sargefield and the victim.
Sargefield was unprepared to present legal arguments on Tuesday and did not have a lawyer to assist him. Chief Judge Brian C. McLean adjourned the hearing until Jan. 7, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
At that time, Sargefield must prove he was unaware of the allegations and charges, that he was unaware of the effect and consequences of his guilty plea, that his plea was not made voluntarily, and that his plea was equivocal in nature.
Two other sex charges, which were to be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing, will remain before the court as a result of Sargefield’s request to take back his guilty plea.
Facing fraud charge
Cindy Mean, 64, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 31 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a fraud charge.
RCMP charged Mean with defrauding another person of a sum of money with a value not exceeding $5,000 in connection with incidents between Aug. 2 and Oct. 3, 2022, at Lower Brighton. She was scheduled for plea on Dec. 10 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Limestone woman charged
Brandi Cowper, 46, of Limestone, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
Cowper was charged with obstructing the course of justice concerning an incident on Aug. 10 in Jackson Falls. She was scheduled to attend court on Dec. 10 and did not appear but was represented by defence counsel.
Summerfield man awaiting trial
Michael Evan Shellard, 33, of Summerfield, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Oct. 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Shellard appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
He was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, careless use of a firearm; possession of a firearm without a licence, and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Nov. 5 at Summerfield. He was also charged with assault and assault by choking involving a female victim for another incident on Nov. 3 at Summerfield.
Returning for plea
Braden Morgan, 27, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Morgan was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Oct. 30 in Woodstock. He was scheduled for plea on Dec. 10 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Charged with impaired driving
Angela O’Donnell, 56, of Glassville, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to answer an impaired driving charge.
RCMP charged O’Donnell following an incident on June 16 at Fielding. She was scheduled for plea on Dec. 10 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Arrested on new charge
Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 10. She was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police charged King with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9 in Woodstock. She is also awaiting trial on other separate matters.
Woodstock Police charged King with assault with a weapon (a knife), assault causing bodily harm to a male victim, theft, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial dates were rescheduled for April 14 and April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
She was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving, committing mischief causing property damage and assault using a vehicle following an incident on Sept. 17, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was adjourned until May 8, 2025.
King was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle on Nov. 22, 2022, and failing to attend court on Feb. 21, 2023. She pleaded not guilty and a trial date was set for April 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Two charged with fraud
Two individuals from Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 to answer fraud charges.
John Perley and Tara Sappier were each charged by RCMP with uttering forged documents (cheques) and fraud over $5,000 in connection with incidents between Sept. 12 and Oct. 6, 2022 at Neqotkuk. They both return to court for plea on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The charges are related to a series of cheques stolen from the band office which were allegedly cashed by a number of individuals in the community. Other charges have been laid.
Plea adjourned on several charges
Logan Estey, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 to answer multiple charges. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Estey was charged by RCMP with assault, assault with a weapon (a car), and dangerous driving following an incident on July 24 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident on Aug. 3 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no further contact with the complainant. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8 and was released with conditions.
He was also charged with mischief causing property damage to a window and possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing an offence in connection with an incident on Jan. 1 in Upper Woodstock. The court heard Estey is also facing more charges in Fredericton.
Returning for plea on trafficking charges
Justin Ryan Shea, 36, of Plymouth Road, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 to answer two drug trafficking charges. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Shea was charged by Woodstock Police with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents in Woodstock on June 30 and May 2.
Shea appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged by Woodstock Police with break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26 and an additional charge of breaching an undertaking (curfew).
Shea was also charged with mischief causing property damage and break, enter and theft at the East Coast Truck Wash for an incident on March 17 in Lower Woodstock.
Sentencing set for manufacturing firearms
Kevin Manuel Cedros, 42, of Aroostook Junction, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 and pleaded guilty to seven of 10 charges related to the manufacture of firearms using a 3D printer. His sentencing date was set for March 25, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Cedros appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 5 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Cedros was also placed under house arrest. He was ordered to reside at a residence in Aroostook Junction and follow a curfew. Police will be checking on him on a regular basis and all 3D printer software and supplies were to be surrendered to the authorities immediately.
RCMP arrested Cedros after police received a report on Aug. 15 about a person manufacturing and selling 3D-printed firearms at a residence on Route 130 in Aroostook. Search warrants were executed and police uncovered 3D printed firearms, ammunition, numerous firearm parts, a 3D printer, prohibited magazines and electronic devices.
In federal prison awaiting plea
Ryan Eccleston, 32, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video from federal prison on Dec. 10 to answer two charges laid by RCMP.
Eccleston was charged with being at large on a release order and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking. He returns to court in custody for plea on Jan. 7, 2025, at 11 a.m.
Eccleston was sentenced in 2021 to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 11 charges laid by RCMP. He was paroled and then returned to prison on the new charges. He told the court his prison sentence from 2021 expires in January.
Drug charge stayed
Rhonda Perley, 59, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was scheduled for sentencing in provincial court on Dec. 10 when Judge Natalie LeBlanc ordered a stay of proceedings at the crown’s request.
Perley pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine for an incident on Feb. 27, 2020, at Neqotkuk. The court heard she could not appear for sentencing due to serious illness.
A co-accused, Jeffrey Phillips, 60, of Neqotkuk, was sentenced to two years in federal prison for drug trafficking when he appeared in provincial court on April 3.
Phillips pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking for an incident on Feb. 28, 2020, at Neqotkuk. The crown withdrew two other charges. Phillips had a prior criminal record for drug possession.
RCMP charged them after undercover police officers purchased cocaine from them at their home in Neqotkuk. The crown said the officers dealt with Phillips to make the purchase, but Perley was inside the house and aware of what was happening. Perley also talked to the officers about the deal and possible future deals.
Change of plea for Denny
Braxton Denny, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing was set for March 11, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Denny pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property and flight from police on July 22, 2023, in Jacksonville. Two counts of failing to appear in court, on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, 2023, were withdrawn by the crown.
Denny was also charged by Woodstock Police with assault, committing mischief by damaging a TV, and breach of a release order by failing to abstain from drugs between May 1 and June 6 in Woodstock; and assaulting a woman, assault by choking, two counts of uttering threats, committing mischief by damaging a mirror and a door, and breach of a release order by failing to abstain from drugs for another incident between June 6-7 in Woodstock.
He pleaded not guilty and his trial date was set for Sept. 11-12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was also scheduled for March 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Denny appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Trial set for Centreville man
Stacey Harry Broad, 56, of Centreville, is scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court in custody on Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to assault and mischief charges laid by RCMP.
Broad appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 23 and was denied bail. On May 9, he pleaded not guilty to multiple assault charges laid by RCMP.
Broad was charged with assault, assault by choking, sexual assault and unlawful confinement involving a female victim in connection with an incident in the County of York between April 3 and April 10.
He was released from custody with conditions but was re-arrested on a charge of breaching his release order on April 15.
Plea adjourned on two sets of charges
Dynielle Allison Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Nov. 29 to answer two charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Demerchant was charged with identity theft (cards) and possession of methamphetamine concerning an incident on May 2 in Woodstock. She appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 4 and was released with conditions.
Demerchant was also charged by Woodstock Police with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon (a switchblade) in connection with an incident on Dec. 22, 2022, in Woodstock. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on March 12.
On Nov. 1, her defence counsel told the court a resolution was pending on the trial matter but Demerchant did not appear to deal with the charges and a warrant was issued.
Sentencing set for Davenport
Timothy Grant Davenport, 46, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court in custody on Dec. 13 for sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on six charges laid by RCMP.
Davenport was charged by RCMP with theft of a gun and ammunition, committing mischief by breaking a window, resisting arrest, possession of a prohibited weapon (a loaded sawed-off shotgun), reckless discharge of a firearm, pointing a firearm at another man, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a firearm while prohibited, in connection with an incident on Nov. 26, 2023, near Lakeville.
Three of the charges were withdrawn by the crown and one firearm charge was reduced to a lesser included offence.
Davenport appeared in court for a bail hearing on Nov. 29, 2023, and was remanded to jail. He also awaits sentencing for one other offence after pleading guilty to a fraud charge.
Quebec man awaits sentencing
A Quebec man remains in custody after a spike belt was used to stop a vehicle that was travelling in the wrong lane on the Trans Canada Highway and then fled from police near Woodstock during the early morning hours of Aug. 5.
Frederick Garneau Watson, 42, of Saint Liguori, was arrested by RCMP near Maliseet Fuels at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) and remanded to jail.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 30 and pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving, flight from police, assault and obstruction. He was scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 9 when the matter was adjourned to Jan. 23, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Police laid the charges after receiving a report of a vehicle travelling in the wrong lane on Highway 2 around 1:30 a.m. and then spotted it driving erratically in the parking lot at Maliseet Fuels. The vehicle attempted to flee the scene. Police deployed a tire deflation device to stop it. The driver exited the vehicle and was arrested at the scene. A loaded handgun was located in the vehicle after his arrest.
