Crown wants four and a half years in jail for Hayes
Sentence has been reserved until July for a Benton man, who led police on a wild chase and days later jumped into the Eel River.
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on May 20 after changing his plea to guilty on a raft of charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
After hearing submissions from both the Crown and defence counsel, Judge Rose Campbell reserved her decision on sentence until July 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Crown Prosecutor Sean Corscadden recommended Hayes serve 54 months in federal prison, minus time served, which would leave him with 40 months behind bars once his 417 days in remand are applied.
The Crown lawyer also requested a five-year driving prohibition. He said Hayes’ drug-fuelled crime spree involved several incidents and used up a lot of police resources. Despite the danger he caused, no one was injured.
Defence Counsel Tim Murphy requested 23 months in jail, minus time served, and asked that Hayes serve the remainder of his sentence in a Moncton rehab facility. Should the judge agree, Hayes would have 14 months in rehab once his remand time is applied.
“Meth appears to be the significant issue here,” said Murphy. “His drug use has increased over time. He was using hard drugs on a daily basis. It’s a re-occurring problem that continues to bring him back before the court.”
Murphy said Hayes accepted responsibility for his actions and was remorseful for his crimes. The accused was pursued by multiple officers and damaged a police vehicle during one encounter in Benton.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He has been in custody since his arrest last August and has a lengthy prior criminal record.
“I just want to get back to work and get my life straightened out,” Hayes told the court.
Judge Campbell sentenced him to 21 days in lieu of an unpaid $2,000 fine for driving while suspended. That sentence will be expended while he awaits her decision on his remaining offences.
Hayes pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his house arrest, dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle by ramming it during incidents in Benton and Teeds Mill on July 25, 2025.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, and uttering threats on July 25, 2025, in Woodstock. A breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
The court heard how Hayes fled Benton on a stolen ATV and led police on a wild chase through Woodstock. He drove over the lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse before heading to the RCMP detachment on Connell Street, where he drove over the lawn and spun the ATV around in the parking lot. He drove off again and uttered threats to construction workers behind Sobeys before making his escape. Days later, he was involved in three more incidents.
Hayes was charged with 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, at the Debec Store. He pleaded guilty to stealing the gas and agreed to sign a 12- month peace bond for the assault and threats. The Crown withdrew the remaining charge.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to obstructing police following a bizarre incident on Aug. 15, 2025, near Meductic when he jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody. The court heard that a police helicopter and boat were called to the scene. Hayes refused to surrender to the police and would not take a life jacket. He swam back to shore after spending 45 minutes in the water and was arrested.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to another charge of assault, transferred from Edmundston. The court heard Hayes assaulted a correctional officer at the jail on Feb. 12, 2025, by pushing him and kicking him in the chest. The officer was knocked down a stairway, but another staff member caught him and broke his fall.
Sentence adjourned for assessment
Jacob Richard Sewell, 34, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court for sentencing on May 21 after changing his plea to guilty on a drug trafficking charge laid by the RCMP.
He was remanded for a 20-day mental health assessment at Restigouche hospital so his sentencing was adjourned until June 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Sewell was charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine in connection with incidents on April 24 and May 2, 2025, in Woodstock. The court heard Sewell was caught selling cocaine to an undercover police officer during two incidents. With the consent of the Crown, the two counts were rolled into one trafficking charge.
Newbridge man awaits sentencing
Bernard Murray Turner, 38, of Newbridge, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 20 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was set for Aug. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Turner pleaded guilty to fraud under $5,000 and possession of stolen property (a cheque) for an incident on Aug. 3, 2023, in Woodstock. Another charge of forgery was withdrawn by the Crown.
At a separate court appearance, Turner also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence (a shotgun) for another incident on Nov. 5, 2024, at Carlow.
Turner was also charged by Woodstock Police with breaching a release order (no-contact), uttering threats, assault, and dangerous driving concerning an incident on June 4, 2025, in Woodstock. His trial dates were set for Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. and Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
He also pleaded not guilty to a charge of flight from police stemming from an incident on Feb. 16, 2024, and a trial date was set for Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Probation and counselling
Cody Orland Doherty, 39, of no fixed address, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on May 21 after changing his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. He was placed on 12 months of probation and was ordered to seek mental health counselling.
Doherty was charged with committing mischief at Tim Hortons and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on May 20, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol. The court heard the accused was throwing coffee cups and moving chairs around in the coffee shop before taking off his shirt. Police were called and arrested him outside in the parking lot. Doherty told the court he did not remember much about the event.
Returning for plea
Trevor MacDonald, 52, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on June 9 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by the RCMP.
MacDonald was charged with flight from police and dangerous driving in connection with an incident on Feb. 27 in Meductic. He made his first court appearance on May 19 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date.
Charged with firearm offences
Curtis Cowperthwaite, 44, of Deerville, will appear in provincial court on June 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two firearm charges laid by the RCMP.
Cowperthwaite was charged with careless use of a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm following an incident on April 28 at Deerville. He appeared in court on May 19 when the matter was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
Sentencing on two charges
Ian Washburn, 55, of Holmesville, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 20 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was set for Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Washburn pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and committing an indecent act in connection with an incident on Oct. 13, 2024, in Oakland. A second assault charge was withdrawn by the Crown. He was also charged with driving while suspended for an incident on Feb. 9, 2025, in Oakland, and his trial in that case proceeded on May 21.
Trial adjourned
William McKinney, 45, of Benton, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 21 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was adjourned until Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m. with the consent of both the Crown and Defence Counsel Ron Morris.
McKinney was charged with impaired driving and flight from police concerning an incident on Sept. 10, 2024, in Benton.
Released until sentencing
Logan James Estey, 21, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on May 21 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by the RCMP and Woodstock Police. His sentencing was adjourned until June 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Estey was released from custody on April 7 after several months. The court heard that other charges were being transferred from Fredericton for his sentencing hearing.
Estey was denied bail on Sept. 22, 2025. He pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order in September and June of 2025 and mischief causing property damage to a window for an incident on Jan. 1, 2024, in Upper Woodstock.
Estey also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and assault with a weapon (a car) for an incident on July 24, 2024, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
He was charged by the Woodstock Police with two counts of violating a no-contact order in connection with an incident on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to have no further contact with the female complainant. Three other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
In custody in Fredericton
Michael Alexander Murphy, 29, of no fixed address, will appear for trial in provincial court on Sept. 28 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP.
On May 21, Murphy appeared in court via video in custody after being denied bail in Fredericton on other, separate matters. He told the court he intended to proceed to trial in September on the charges in Woodstock.
Murphy was charged by the RCMP with failing to appear in court on May 12, 2025, and fraudulent impersonation with intent to avoid arrest concerning an incident on March 11, 2025, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
Trial on several charges
Gabriel Blake VanHorne, 25, of Hartley Settlement, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 22 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. The trial outcome was still pending with the court by late Friday afternoon.
VanHorne was charged by the RCMP with breaching a no-contact order, stemming from an incident between April 24 and May 5. He appeared in provincial court via video while in custody on May 20 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
He was also charged by the RCMP with assault involving a female victim, committing mischief and breach of an undertaking for an incident on April 19 at Hartley Settlement. VanHorne had a dated prior criminal record.
Trial on firearm charges
Brandon Chappell, 28, of Plaster Rock, was slated for trial in provincial court on May 22 after pleading not guilty to four charges laid by the RCMP. The case was still with the court by late afternoon Friday.
Chappell appeared in provincial court in January while in custody and was released on conditions. He was charged with pointing a firearm at another person, uttering threats, possession of several firearms without a licence, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace in connection with an incident on June 15, 2024, at Plaster Rock.
