Guilty plea stands for Bloomfield Woman
A Bloomfield woman has failed in her attempt to have her guilty plea withdrawn on a drug charge and is awaiting sentencing next week.
Bronwyn Barbara Thomas, 23, was charged by RCMP with attempting to possess two kilograms of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2, 2022, at a Canada Post Office in Centreville.
On Nov. 28, Thomas appeared before Judge Cameron Gunn for a hearing on her application to withdraw her guilty plea.
The judge ruled Thomas’ testimony lacked credibility, and there was no evidence to suggest she was uninformed or did not understand the consequences of her guilty plea. The judge denied her application and told Thomas her guilty plea would stand.
“I can’t go to jail today,” Thomas told the judge. “I have to rehome my cat.”
Thomas was in court for the hearing without legal counsel. Judge Gunn told the accused her sentencing could not proceed without a lawyer to assist her. Gunn set her sentencing date for Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. when duty counsel would be available.
Thomas was expected to receive a two-year federal prison sentence when the proceedings came to a halt on Oct. 4.
At that time, Thomas told Judge Cameron Gunn she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea and seek new legal counsel.
Judge Gunn warned Thomas that her guilty plea had been entered, and she agreed to a statement of facts, which was read into the record at her last court appearance. A joint submission on sentencing, as proposed by the crown and defence counsel, was cancelled as a result of her request to withdraw her guilty plea.
Thomas attended four more court appearances before a hearing was finally held about her application on Thursday.
Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver told the court Thomas was “grasping at straws.” He argued there was no legitimate reason to grant her request since Thomas was an active and willing participant in the crime. She had no prior criminal record.
In the statement of facts presented earlier by the crown, the court heard Thomas was arrested by RCMP going out the door at the Centreville post office on March 2, 2022, with a parcel she received by mail from British Columbia.
When she saw the police, she dropped it to the ground and said the parcel did not belong to her. Police found other drug paraphernalia in her vehicle and purse, and cell phone evidence linked her to a drug transaction.
Police were notified after a post office inspector in Dieppe identified the parcel addressed to Thomas as suspicious. Two kilograms of crystal meth were found inside in sealed bags.
The meth was confiscated and a non-controlled substance similar to rock salt was put inside the parcel before it was mailed (as addressed) to Thomas in Centreville. She opened her post office box and retrieved the mail slip for the package marked priority post.
267 days or time served
Shane Lee Dickison, 37, of Woodstock, was sentenced to 267 days in jail or time served when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 29. He was released from custody and placed on 18 months of probation.
Chief Judge Brian C. McLean also ordered Dickison to register with the federal DNA database and prohibited him from possessing firearms. A knife used in the commission of two offences was forfeited to the crown.
The judge ordered the accused to have no contact with the complainants involved in the assaults. He had been in custody since his arrest by RCMP in early June.
Dickison pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a knife ) involving another man and uttering threats for an incident on April 23 in Lower Woodstock. The crown withdrew another charge of breaching a peace bond.
Woodstock police also charged Dickison with assault with a weapon (a knife and a piece of asphalt) involving another man, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on May 6 on Charles Street in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty. The crown withdrew another charge of uttering threats.
Dickison also pleaded guilty to breaching his release order by violating the conditions of electronic monitoring on June 5. The court heard he was outside his curfew when he was located in an intoxicated condition and riding a bicycle on the highway near Dorrington Hill. Dickison had a limited prior criminal record.
210 days in jail for domestic violence
Trevor Gerald McDougall, 33, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 29 and changed his plea to guilty on a series of charges laid by the Woodstock Police Force. He was sentenced to 210 days in jail minus time served.
McDougall was also placed on 18 months of probation. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 4 and was denied bail. He has another 69 days left on his sentence.
McDougall pleaded guilty to breach of a release order and breach of a no-contact order on Aug. 31 in Woodstock; guilty to assaulting a woman and uttering threats on July 26 and Aug. 21 at a residence in Woodstock; and guilty to breaching a no-contact order while in custody on Sept. 1.
The crown withdrew two counts of breaching an emergency intervention order. He had a dated prior criminal record. The court heard the incidents involved domestic violence.
Arrested and released with conditions
Philip Campbell, 34, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Nov. 28. He was released with conditions and will return to court for plea on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Campbell was charged with breaching a no-contact order between Oct. 16 and Nov. 25 at Perth Andover. He is also scheduled to appear in provincial court on the same date for plea on an assault charge.
The RCMP charged Campbell with assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Oct. 6 at Perth-Andover.
Bail adjourned for Neqotkuk man
Philip Sappier-Solomon, 31, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 29 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and will return to court in custody for plea on Dec. 12 at 11 a.m.
The RCMP charged Sappier-Solomon with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, mischief causing property damage (a phone), breach of peace bond, and breach of probation following an incident on Nov. 27 at Centreville. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant. He has a prior criminal record.
Remanded on two charges
Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 29 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and returns to court for plea on Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Sullivan was charged with assaulting another man and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Nov. 23 at Plaster Rock and Gladwyn. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant. Sullivan has a prior criminal record.
Perley returning for plea
Stephen Perley, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 29 for plea on multiple firearm charges. The matter was adjourned until Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Perley appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4 and was denied bail.
The RCMP charged Perley with unlawful transport of firearms (several rifles, a shotgun, and a nine-millimetre handgun), possession of prohibited firearms, two counts of transporting firearms in a careless manner, two counts of possessing firearms without a licence, and possession of a firearm with the serial number altered in connection with an incident on Sept. 24 at Neqotkuk.
He was also charged with flight from police and breach of probation for a separate incident on Sept. 14. Perley has a prior criminal record.
Plea postponed
Patrick Myers, 39, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 28 for plea on three charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Myers was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, breach of an undertaking and possession of ammunition while prohibited in connection with an incident on May 20 at Plaster Rock. The court heard Myers was remanded on other matters in Fredericton.
New defence counsel for trial
Joseph Martin, 37, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 28 for monitoring about his trial.
The court heard Martin had new legal counsel but did not want his trial postponed. His trial dates were previously set for Dec. 9 and Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The matter was adjourned until Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. when new Defence Counsel Tim Dube will be in court to discuss those trial dates.
Martin appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on July 8 and was remanded to jail.
RCMP charged him with indictable assault for an incident on July 4 at Perth Andover. He was arrested and taken into custody on July 5.
The RCMP also charged Martin with possession of a stolen ATV and breach of probation. He failed to appear in court to answer the charges on June 4, and a warrant was issued.
Martin turned himself in at the courthouse on June 12 and was arrested by sheriffs. He was later released with conditions but was re-arrested.
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.
The Woodstock Police Force also charged Demerchant 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 on two charges
Edward Hayes Jr., 29, of Benton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 29 and pleaded guilty to two charges. His sentencing was set for Jan. 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Hayes pleaded guilty to flight from police and breach of probation. He also appeared in custody by video on Oct. 31 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. His trial dates were set for Jan. 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. and Jan. 30 and Feb. 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Hayes was denied bail on Aug. 29. He was charged with refusing a breathalyzer demand, resisting arrest, assaulting two police officers, dangerous driving causing bodily harm, assault on a female victim, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and driving while prohibited in connection with an incident on Aug. 27 at Centreville. Hayes also faces a separate charge of assault involving a female on June 17 at a residence in Centreville.
Trial stalled on assault charge
Chad Leighton, 45, of Benton, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 28 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. After a half-day of testimony, Judge Henrik Tonning adjourned the trial for a voir dire hearing on Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Leighton was charged by RCMP with assault on a minor in connection with an incident on May 8, 2023, in Benton. The trial got bogged down on Thursday when the victim in the case testified he could not remember the details of the alleged offence.
