Kirkland man pleads guilty to gun and drug charges
Larry Shane Kennedy, 50, of Kirkland, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 1 and changed his plea to guilty on gun and drug trafficking charges. His sentencing was set for March 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Kennedy pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine, both for the purpose of trafficking; and guilty to illegal possession of a firearm (a Russian SKS semi-automatic rifle) and improper storage of a firearm, stemming from a search warrant executed at his residence on Feb. 16 in Kirkland.
A co-accused, Joshua Sterling Trail, 42, of Hartland, appeared in court in custody on Dec. 1 and pleaded guilty to indictable theft of a motor vehicle related to the same incident. He will be sentenced on Feb. 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver told the court police received a report about a stolen truck and an assault at the Eagles Nest Casino at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) on Feb. 5. Video surveillance revealed Kennedy and Trail arrived at the scene while an altercation was taking place between two other men about ownership of the truck, which had been posted for sale online. Trail eventually drove off in the truck, and Kennedy followed in his vehicle.
On Feb. 16, police located the stolen truck in Kennedy’s garage in Kirkland while Trail was on the premises. Kennedy denied that the truck was stolen. A search of the garage turned up the illegal firearm and a container of drugs sitting on the driver’s seat of the truck. The Crown said there was $3,000 worth of crystal methamphetamine and $5,000 worth of cocaine in the container.
Kennedy also pleaded guilty to an indictable possession of methamphetamine during another search of his residence in Kirkland on May 29. He was also charged with breaching a release order, but that matter was adjourned for monitoring until his sentencing in March.
A co-accused, Dominique Gray, 26, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. to answer a drug-related charge stemming from the May 29 incident in Kirkland. She was scheduled to stand trial on a trafficking charge in June.
Joshua Trail also pleaded guilty to fraudulent impersonation for a separate incident on Dec. 9, 2024, at Richmond Corner. The court heard that police discovered a vehicle stuck in a snowbank near the community recreation centre. Trail was asleep inside the vehicle and then gave a false name to the police. He will be sentenced on Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police also charged Trail with breaking into a dwelling house on Charlotte Street to commit mischief, unlawful entry for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of break-in tools, possession of a stolen Blue Cross card, mischief causing property damage to a door, interfering with the lawful use of property, and illegal possession of methamphetamine for an incident between Sept. 6-7, 2024, in Woodstock.
He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was set for July 23-24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. That trial date may now have to be moved up due to Trail being in custody. He was denied bail in July of this year.
Trail was charged with driving while prohibited on June 6 in Woodstock and breaching a release order by cutting off his ankle bracelet on July 29 in Ashland. He pleaded not guilty on Nov. 4, and a trial date was set for Feb. 6, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
A co-accused, Dynielle Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty to the same list of charges for the alleged break-in on Charlotte Street. Her trial date was also set for July 23-24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant also pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen property and to a probation violation stemming from a separate incident on Sept. 17, 2024, in Woodstock. Her trial will be held on July 23-24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing for drug trafficking
Charles Giberson, 46, of Rothesay, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 and changed his plea to guilty on a drug trafficking charge laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was set for March 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Giberson was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from an incident on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock.
Charges laid in fatal accident
Casey Feuser, 37, of Sussex, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. to answer four charges related to a fatal accident that killed two people on the Trans Canada Highway outside Woodstock last year.
RCMP charged Feuser with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident on Sept. 26, 2024, near Hay Settlement. He was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Two male passengers from Sussex died as a result of the single-vehicle accident, which occurred around 1:30 a.m. The vehicle was travelling eastbound on the highway when it lost control and went into a ditch.
Awaiting trial date
Chad Brooker, 36, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 to set a date for his trial on charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Brooker 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. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 19 after being arrested on a warrant and was released with conditions.
Trial in February
Collin Francis Bear, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on Feb. 23, 2026, after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Bear was charged in connection with an incident at Neqotkuk in 2024. He appeared in court on Dec. 2 to confirm the trial date. Another monitoring hearing was scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
In custody awaiting plea
Steven Frank Powers, 60, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 2 to answer two charges laid by the RCMP.
Powers was charged with nudity and committing an indecent act in connection with an incident between June 17 and 25 in Plaster Rock. He returns to court for plea on Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard he was remanded on other separate charges in Edmundston.
Charged with threats
Kristopher Thomas McConnell, 33, of Hartland, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to face a charge of uttering threats laid by the RCMP.
McConnell was scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 2 but did not. His lawyer was present via teleconference and requested that the matter be adjourned to a new date.
Plaster Rock man to be sentenced
Phillip Campbell, 23, of Plaster Rock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 1 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing date was set for March 3, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Campbell was charged with breach of an undertaking and assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Oct. 6, 2024, at Perth-Andover.
Probation on assault charge
Alesha Rossi, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Dec. 1 after changing her plea to guilty on an assault charge laid by the RCMP. She received nine months of probation.
Rossi was charged with assault involving a male victim, assault with a weapon (a chair), and uttering threats concerning an incident on Oct. 12, 2024, at Neqotkuk. She pleaded guilty to the assault, and the Crown withdrew the two remaining charges.
Probation and community service
Michael Holt, 68, of Riverglade, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 2 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. He was sentenced to 12 months of probation and 50 hours of community service work.
Holt was charged with theft and mischief, causing property damage, in connection with a break-in and the theft of copper wire at the tourism building at Richmond Corner on Feb. 19, 2024.
Missed sentencing hearing
The court issued another arrest warrant for Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, after he failed to appear in provincial court for his sentencing hearing on Dec. 1. He pleaded guilty in June to two charges laid by the RCMP.
Hargrove pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm to another man and possession of a stolen ATV for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent.
Failing to pay restitution
Gary Frederick Kilcollins, 48, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 and pleaded not guilty to one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Kilcollins was charged with breaching probation on July 2 by failing to pay $919 in restitution related to a previous offence. His trial date was set for Jan. 4, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring hearing was also booked for Feb. 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing for impaired driving
Karen Irene Davenport, 44, of Jackson Falls, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 27, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to an impaired driving charge.
Woodstock Police charged Davenport in connection with an incident on March 20 in Woodstock. She entered her guilty plea at a court appearance on Dec. 2.
Stolen vehicle allegation
Brandon Hamilton, 36, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 30 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Hamilton was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and two counts of driving while suspended. He was scheduled to enter a plea on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fielding, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Dec. 2 for a monitoring hearing about his trial.
O’Keefe was charged by the RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m.
He was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 4 for a monitoring hearing, but he failed to attend because he was hospitalized. His lawyer appeared via teleconference on Dec. 2 and said his client had since been released from the hospital and was aware of his scheduled court date.
Returning for plea
Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Rosedale, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 30 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on four charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Nowlan was charged with possession of a stolen motorcycle and altering a vehicle identification number on Aug. 5, and with flight from police and fraud in another separate incident in Woodstock. He appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Adjourned for legal counsel
Allison Drier, 47, of Carlow, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on three charges laid by the RCMP.
Drier was charged with two counts of uttering threats and mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle following an incident on Aug. 2 at Carlow. He appeared in court on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
No contact with complainant
Joseph Foster, 35, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by the RCMP.
Foster was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, and uttering threats stemming from an incident on Sept. 23 in Upper Woodstock. He appeared in court on Dec. 2 and was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Awaiting trial date
Robin Sappier, 47, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Sappier was charged with assaulting a male victim on Aug. 28 at Neqotkuk. She returns to court on Jan. 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
Glassville man to stand trial
Timothy Maurice Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 to set new dates for his trial on charges laid by the RCMP.
Thibodeau pleaded not guilty to 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, 2024.
At the request of his defence counsel, his trial was rescheduled for July 30-31, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for the drug charge and Aug. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. on the remaining two charges.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 18 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear, and was released on conditions.
In custody on Fredericton charges
Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 36, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 2 to answer a stolen property charge laid by the RCMP. He told the court he was currently remanded on other charges in Fredericton.
Stockford was charged with possession of a stolen side-by-side for an incident on July 20 at Waterville. He will return to court in Woodstock on Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m. for a plea, when he has other matters set for trial.
Stockford appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Stockford appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Feb. 18 and was released with conditions. He was charged with breaching his release order following an incident on Feb. 18 at Bedell.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 21 after being arrested on a warrant. He was charged by the RCMP with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving while suspended, and breach of probation, stemming from an incident on Aug. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. He has a lengthy prior criminal record.
Plea on multiple charges
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on 20 charges laid by the RCMP.
He appeared in court on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow him time to consult legal counsel.
Brooks appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on June 19 and was released on conditions, including house arrest. He was later arrested on a warrant for failing to appear and then released until his next court appearance.
Brooks was charged with five counts of assault involving a female victim, four counts of assault by choking, three counts of unlawful confinement, two counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a phone cord), assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, mischief causing damage to a cell phone, and two counts of breaching a release order (no contact).
The charges were laid in connection with a series of incidents on Nov. 24, 2024; Feb. 12, Feb. 17, May 28, June 9, June 10, and June 11, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5 in Hartland; and on Feb. 19 in Woodstock. He was arrested and taken into custody on June 12.
Plea on four charges
Natasha Ginson, 35, of Mainstream, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on four charges laid by the RCMP.
Ginson was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, uttering threats and possession of a stolen ATV stemming from an incident on May 18 at Riverbank. She appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 when the matter was adjourned to allow her more time to secure legal counsel.
Plea and sentencing in October
Caleb Wavel Crain, 42, of Piercemont, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 2 for a monitoring hearing. He is awaiting plea on one set of charges and sentencing on another. All matters were adjourned for further monitoring until Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Crain with carelessly transporting a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence (a semi-automatic rifle), and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, following an incident on June 19 in Woodstock. He is expected to enter his plea on Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Crain was also charged with assault causing bodily harm to a female victim, unlawful confinement, and uttering threats following an incident on Dec. 10, 2022, near Florenceville-Bristol. He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of common assault and guilty to uttering threats. The Crown withdrew the confinement charge.
He returns to court for sentencing on those charges on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. Since Crain disputed the facts to be presented by the Crown, a hearing must be held before his sentence can be imposed.
Guilty plea on drug charges
Samuel Robert Crewe, 31, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 2 and pleaded guilty to one set of drug charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Crewe pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking on March 19 in Woodstock. His sentencing date was booked for Jan. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
The Crown withdrew drug trafficking charges laid against a co-accused, Kaylee Melinda Smith.
Smith pleaded not guilty to two counts of identity theft on March 19 in Woodstock, and her trial was set for Jan. 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. She also returns to court on Dec. 16 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on other charges, including flight from police and dangerous driving, stemming from another incident on July 10 in Hartland.
Crewe has multiple charges and court dates scheduled along with other co-accused.
Kurtis Stenger, 33, of Fredericton, and Timothy Brian Wheelan, 37, of Jacksonville, appeared in provincial court with Crewe on Nov. 18 to answer multiple gun charges and drug trafficking charges laid by the RCMP.
Crewe appeared in custody by video, while Wheelan was in custody via teleconference. Stenger was present in court. The three men were each charged with possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and fentanyl, all for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents between June 1 and June 13 in Jacksonville. They return to court on Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m. to enter a plea.
Stenger also faces 14 firearm charges in relation to the June 13 incident and will enter a plea on Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe has 13 firearm charges for the same incident and faces another charge of breaching a release order on March 6 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty, and trial dates were set for Sept. 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and Nov. 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Wheelan has 48 gun charges from the June 13 incident, as well as three other separate charges for uttering threats on March 17, April 10, and Aug. 12, breach of a peace bond, and breach of a release order on Sept. 21. He will enter a plea on Dec. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe was denied bail on July 24 on other separate charges. Woodstock Police charged him with being at large on a release order stemming from a June 24 incident in Woodstock, which was allegedly in violation of his house arrest. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was rescheduled for Jan. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Crewe also appeared in provincial court on June 3 and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by Woodstock Police, including flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of a release order on May 6 in Woodstock. His trial date was rescheduled for Jan. 26, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
He also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 18 and pleaded not guilty to four more charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Feb. 11, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Crewe was charged by the RCMP with possession of methamphetamine, flight from police, dangerous driving and driving while prohibited in connection with a single vehicle accident in Kirkland on Jan. 4. He has a prior criminal record.
