Butler awaiting hefty prison sentence
Rodney Butler, 50, of Bulls Creek, is expected to receive a hefty federal prison sentence on Jan. 13 after being found guilty on all eight charges related to the kidnapping and violent assault of a Scotts Siding man in 2021.
Butler appeared for sentencing before Chief Judge Brian C. McLean on Dec. 16. The crown submitted a written recommendation for Butler to serve 10 to 14 years in federal prison.
Defence Counsel Alex Pate told the court he was not ready to proceed and needed more time to respond to the crown’s recommendation for Butler. His sentencing was adjourned until Jan. 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Butler with intentionally discharging a firearm while reckless as to the life and safety of another person, indictable assault, uttering threats, using a handgun to kidnap Chris Demerchant, unlawful confinement, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a firearm without a licence, and illegal possession of a firearm in a vehicle on Nov. 13, 2021, at Bulls Creek.
Judge McLean found him guilty on all counts after a five-day trial.
No charges have been laid in relation to the killing of Christine Pelletier-Thibodeau, Butler’s former partner, who died from a gunshot wound to the neck during a shootout outside Butler’s residence on the night of the kidnapping. Police tape was erected around the property, which was surrounded by a vehicle salvage yard.
Lengthy jail sentence expected for vicious domestic abuse
A Plymouth Road man who admitted to beating and abusing his former partner for weeks is expected to receive a lengthy jail term on Jan. 31.
Andrew Pelkey, 43, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Dec. 17 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. Judge Karen Lee reserved her decision on sentence until Jan. 31, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Crown Prosecutor Charles Couturier told the court Pelkey deserved 12 to 18 months in jail, while Defence Counsel Wanda Severns asked for house arrest.
Judge Lee said she would have “a real hard time to consider house arrest” because of the serious level of domestic violence involved in Pelkey’s crimes.
“This is not a spat or somebody who had a bad day,” said Judge Lee. “This is violence at an extreme level that is completely unacceptable with long lasting effects on the victim both physical and emotional.”
The crown also requested that Pelkey be placed on 24 months of probation after his release from jail and that he register with the federal DNA database.
A 20-year prohibition on weapons was also recommended for the accused, along with an order for Pelkey to attend counselling for mental health and alcohol abuse. All firearms seized by police during the investigation are to be forfeited to the crown.
“The facts are quite serious and Mr. Pelkey should be punished,” Couturier stated.
Pelkey was facing eight charges and pleaded guilty to five of them on summary conviction. He pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a belt, bottle and stick), assaulting a woman by choking her, uttering threats, pointing a firearm at another person, and careless use of a firearm. He had a limited prior criminal record.
Three other charges of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (BB guns and a pellet gun), assault, and willfully causing pain to a dog by shooting it with a pellet gun will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing. The woman told police two dogs were shot and killed by the accused, but Pelkey refused to admit it.
The court heard the charges involved a series of violent domestic assaults between Feb. 1, 2023, and March 21, 2023, at Richmond Corner. The woman suffered head and facial injuries, bruises to her arms and back, and a cut on her leg.
She was kicked, beaten with a belt and belt buckle, and hit over the head with a stick of wood and a plastic liquor bottle. Pelkey also pulled her hair, choked her on the living room floor, put a knife to her throat, and tore her clothes.
During one incident, he shot the victim with a BB gun. One other morning, she woke up to a beating when he smashed her in the teeth. She finally went to the police and told them his violent attacks were escalating, and she feared for her life.
Police arrested Pelkey when an emergency intervention order was issued to remove him from the home. Five firearms (BB guns and a pellet gun) were found in the residence and were seized by police.
The woman told the crown it took a month for all of her injuries to heal, and she still suffers from headaches. She has no further contact with the accused and attended court with family members who were seated with her in the gallery.
Pelkey also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on Dec. 19, 2023, and breaching his release order by violating curfew on Sept. 30, 2023.
The defence argued Pelkey was remorseful for his actions and noted he had no previous convictions involving violence. He is employed and has moved on to a new relationship.
East Brighton man to stand trial
Ozzie Jr. Trecartin, 30, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 16 and pleaded not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Oct. 29-30 at 9:30 a.m.
He was charged with impaired driving and two counts of driving while suspended on July 21 in Peel.
Trecartin also appeared in provincial court on Oct. 29 for plea on several other charges related to an alleged attempted murder in East Brighton. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial dates were set for Oct. 16-17, 2025, and Oct. 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Trecartin appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on July 30 and was released from custody with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was ordered to have no firearms in his possession. He must also have no contact with the alleged victim.
RCMP charged Trecartin with attempted murder, reckless discharge of a firearm at a place at the same time a person was inside, two counts of indictable assault against another man, uttering threats, resisting arrest, possession of a firearm without a licence, and storage of multiple firearms in a careless manner following an incident on July 21 at East Brighton.
Neqotkuk man fined $650
Todd Allison Sappier, 63, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 16 and changed his plea to guilty on one charge laid by RCMP.
Sappier pleaded guilty to failing to stop at the scene of an accident on Jan. 8 at Neqotkuk. He was fined $650. The crown withdrew another charge of dangerous driving.
Beechwood man waives bail
Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Dec. 17. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on Jan. 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The RCMP charged Hargrove with possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing police, driving while prohibited, and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 8 at Tobique Narrows.
He was also charged with breaking into a cabin, theft, and mischief causing property damage to a door in relation to a separate incident. More charges of aggravated assault involving a male victim and possession of a stolen motorcycle were also laid for an incident on Aug. 27 at Upper Kent.
Released with conditions
Mitchell LaFrance, 26, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 16 for a bail hearing after being arrested for breaching his release order. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged LaFrance in connection with an alleged breach of his house arrest on Dec. 7.
RCMP also charged LaFrance with breaching a no-contact order for an incident on Sept. 21 at Florenceville-Bristol. He also faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim stemming from an incident on July 19 at Carlingford.
LaFrance also appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 10 and changed his plea to guilty on two other charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court for sentencing on Jan. 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
LaFrance pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking by failing to comply with a no-contact order on Oct. 2, 2023, at East Brighton.
He also pleaded guilty to criminal harassment for incidents between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 2023, in Lower Brighton, involving the same female complainant. The court heard he tried to contact the same female victim hundreds of times by phone, text message and on Facebook. The crown withdrew a threat charge.
Warrant issued for Wotstak man
The court issued an arrest warrant for Mitchell McKenzie, 38, of Wostak (Woodstock First Nation), after he failed to appear in court for plea on Dec. 17.
McKenzie appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 25 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions until his next court appearance.
RCMP charged McKenzie with assaulting another man with a weapon (a wooden pole) following an incident on July 24 at Wotstak.
Agreed to peace bond
Riley Cowper, 20, of Limestone, appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 16 for his trial on an assault charge. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond and the trial did not proceed.
Cowper was charged with assault with a weapon (a hammer and tire iron) involving another man on March 23, 2022. The peace bond will result in the charge being withdrawn.
Cowper remains in custody to await his three-day trial next March in connection with an alleged violent attack on another local man.
RCMP charged Cowper with attempted murder by using a hammer and a wrench to assault Rodney Butler, mischief causing property damage to a car window, uttering threats, and robbery of a vehicle in connection with an incident on Aug. 10 at Jackson Falls.
He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance by video on Nov. 27. Trial dates were set for March 3, March 10 and March 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
He was arrested on Aug. 13 and ordered to have no contact with Butler, who police said was treated at hospital for injuries and later released. On Oct. 18, Cowper waived his bail until later.
Bail hearing adjourned
Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 17 for a bail hearing. Judge Karen Lee adjourned her bail hearing until Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
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 possessing 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.
Alleged invasion of privacy
Dale Boyle, 70, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to answer one charge laid by RCMP.
Boyle was charged with making a visual recording of another person without their consent when there was a reasonable expectation for privacy for an incident between Feb. 1 and Aug. 10 at Plaster Rock. He appeared in court on Dec. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Trafficking charge laid
Timothy Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 24 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by RCMP. He was scheduled for plea on Dec. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Thibodeau was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, uttering threats on Sept. 4, 2023, at Hartland, and failing to appear in court on Oct. 24. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4. He was released with conditions of an order to report to the police weekly.
Three trial dates set
Regis Bowmaster, 31, of Bairdsville, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 and pleaded not guilty to three charges. His trial date was set for Nov. 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Bowmaster appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Nov. 4 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
RCMP charged him with two counts of breaching a release order and possession of methamphetamine concerning an incident on Oct. 23 at Pembroke.
He also appeared in provincial court on July 16 and pleaded not guilty to several other charges laid by RCMP. His trial dates were set for June 2, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. and June 12-13, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Bowmaster was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest concerning an incident on Jan. 4 at Bairdsville. He was also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon (a sawed-off shotgun), improper storage of a firearm, possession of a stolen ATV, and being an occupant of a vehicle, knowing it carried a firearm for another incident on May 27 at Perth-Andover.
Returning for plea
Braden Morgan, 27, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, 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. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Charges laid following accident
Rylan McLeod, 21, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on seven charges laid by RCMP.
McLeod was charged with three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and obstructing police in relation to an accident on Jan. 5 at Bulls Creek. He appeared in court on Dec. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Senior facing two charges
Ursel Wagner Estabrooks, 71, of Wilmot, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Estabrooks was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving stemming from an incident on Aug. 18 at St. Thomas. She appeared in court on Dec. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Resolved by peace bond
Logan Cote, 24, of Wicklow, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 for plea on one charge laid by RCMP. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond and the charge did not proceed.
Cote was charged with assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim following an incident on March 20 at Wicklow. The peace bond will result in the charge being withdrawn.
Sentencing reset for Turner
Marshall Turner, 24, of Beaconsfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for sentencing on Dec. 17 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing was rescheduled for Jan. 8, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the submission of victim impact statements.
RCMP charged Turner with possession of stolen vehicle, flight from police, breach of probation and possession of a stolen fuel pump in connection with a police chase across Carleton North on April 23 that ended in Johnville.
He pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen vehicle and breach of probation, and the crown withdrew the remaining two charges.
On April 13, he was also charged with possessing a stolen vehicle in Greenfield, but the crown withdrew that charge.
Turner also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen vehicle, breach of probation, dangerous driving and driving without insurance on April 18 in Perth-Andover.
The court heard Turner was charged following an accident on Route 130 near Bairdsville when he fell asleep at the wheel and collided with a transport truck.
Turner appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 and waived his bail until later. He has a prior criminal record and has been in custody since his arrest in April.
On Dec. 17, he also pleaded guilty to breach of probation and assaulting a correctional officer for an incident at the Madawaska jail on July 5.
Moved to alternative measures
Stephen Bowmaster, 24, of Sisson Ridge, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 for plea on three charges laid by RCMP. The matter was moved to the alternative measures program with the consent of the crown.
Bowmaster was charged with fraud, uttering a forged document (a $1,700 cheque), and possession of stolen property (cheques) concerning an incident on Oct. 10, 2023, near Perth-Andover. He has until March 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., to complete the requirements of the program in order to have the charges withdrawn.
Charged with sexual assault
Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fredericton, formerly of Fielding, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 to answer a sex charge.
O’Keefe was charged by RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton. He returns to court for plea on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Newburg man pleads not guilty
Jeffrey Richard Bull, 45, of Newburg, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. He returns to court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date. A monitoring date was also set for Dec. 24 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm his legal counsel.
Bull appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 9 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged with aggravated assault and breach of probation concerning an incident on Sept. 8 at 2 a.m. when a man suffered a broken elbow after being struck by a bat on St. James Street in Woodstock. The alleged victim was a newcomer to the town for only three days.
Awaiting plea on assault charge
Tristan Alexander Calhoun, 38, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 for plea on an assault charge. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Calhoun was charged by Woodstock Police with assaulting a woman, stemming from an incident between March 31 and Oct. 30 in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking until his next court appearance.
Charged with breaching curfew
Ronald Terry Bowmaster, 37, of Bairdsville, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 to answer a charge of breaching his curfew.
RCMP charged Bowmaster with breaching his release order (curfew) for an incident on March 17 at Bairdsville. He returns to court for plea on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing set on several charges
Joshua Sisson, 37, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 17 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges. His sentencing date was set for Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Sisson appeared in court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Nov. 14 and was remanded to jail. RCMP charged him with two counts of uttering threats for an incident on Nov. 11 at Neqotkuk. He was also charged with flight from police on Sept. 24.
He changed his plea to guilty on one threat charge and the flight charge on Dec. 17 and told the court he was planning to enter a rehab facility.
Sisson also pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a bottle) involving a female victim, assault, and one count of uttering threats in connection with an incident on April 8 at Neqotkuk. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
He is awaiting plea on Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. on two new charges of attempted break and enter and mischief causing property damage to a shed on Sept. 24 at Neqotkuk.
Carlingford woman to be sentenced
Kortney Boyer, 32, of Carlingford, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 and pleaded guilty to an assault charge. Her sentencing date was set for March 25, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Boyer with assaulting a female victim stemming from an incident on March 18 at Bairdsville. She was released on an undertaking until her next court appearance.
Nabbed with counterfeit money
Chandler Spittle, 22, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 to answer two charges related to counterfeit money. He returns to court for plea on Jan. 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Spittle with possessing counterfeit money (a $100 US bill) and using counterfeit money concerning an incident on Dec. 24, 2023, at Johnson Settlement.
Facing fraud charge
Anita Albert, 51, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 to set a trial date after pleading not guilty to a fraud charge. Her trial date was set for Nov. 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Albert with defrauding the Timbertown Lounge during an incident on Sept. 11, 2022, in Plaster Rock.
Hartland man awaiting trial
Braeden Paul Thornton, 28, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Oct. 30, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Thornton was arrested by RCMP on Thanksgiving weekend on charges of breaching a peace bond, uttering threats, assault, assault by choking, theft, and breaching an undertaking. A monitoring date was set for Feb. 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed to trial.
Thornton appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 16 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Accused of curfew breach
Catherine Polchies, 46, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to answer a charge of breaching her curfew. She was scheduled for plea on Dec. 17 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
RCMP charged Polchies in connection with an incident on March 7 at Wotstak. She also appeared in provincial court in February and pleaded not guilty to other multiple charges. Trial dates were set for Jan. 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. and Feb. 3, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Polchies appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 7 and was released with conditions after spending a few days in jail. She was arrested on warrant after she failed to appear in court for plea on Jan. 2. She also faces charges of breaching a release order and possession of stolen property on Feb. 1 and several firearm offences for an incident on Nov. 11, 2023, in Woodstock.
Polchies was also charged under the Fish and Wildlife Act with discharging a firearm too close to a dwelling house and not wearing hunter orange following an incident on Sept. 27, 2022, at Lower Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty at her court appearance on Feb. 27.
Charged in police stand-off
Travis Terrance McDougall, 32, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 to answer charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of uttering threats and obstructing police in connection with a stand-off on Nov. 2 when an individual barricaded himself inside a residence in Woodstock.
McDougall appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Trial coming up in January
Rachel Sockabasin, 40, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Dec. 17 for monitoring about her upcoming trial in January.
Sockabasin was charged by RCMP with breach of an undertaking, breach of probation and three counts of theft concerning incidents on Feb. 12, Aug. 11, 2023, and Dec. 22, 2023, at the Ultramar in Carlingford. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was scheduled for Jan. 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Another monitoring date was set for Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to confirm she will have legal counsel to proceed to trial.
Released with ankle bracelet
Brian Keith Reynolds, 45, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 16 for a bail hearing after being arrested on a charge of breaching his release order. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
RCMP charged Reynolds with breaching his release order (curfew) concerning an incident on Dec. 10 at Benton. He returns to court for plea on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
He also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 5 to answer several other charges laid by RCMP. Those matters were adjourned until Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to allow him time to secure new legal counsel.
RCMP charged him with uttering threats against a female victim, breach of probation, and driving while suspended, stemming from an incident on Oct. 8, 2023, in Bloomfield. He pleaded not guilty and returns to court on Jan. 7 to set a trial date.
Reynolds was also charged with two counts of resisting arrest on Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 27, 2023, at Wotstak. On Sept. 17, he faced two new charges of assault and assault with a weapon concerning another incident on Aug. 4 at Wotstak. He returns for plea on those charges on Jan. 7.
