Released from custody until sentencing
Joshua Sterling Trail, 42, of Hartland, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on April 29 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was released from custody with conditions to await his sentencing on June 30 at 1:30 p.m.
Trail pleaded guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house on Charlotte Street and committing mischief while on the property in connection with an incident between Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, 2024, in Woodstock. Several other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
A co-accused, Dynielle Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 29 after pleading not guilty to similar charges related to the break-in on Charlotte Street. Her matter was adjourned to May 8 at 1:30 p.m. to allow time for a possible resolution with the Crown.
At an earlier court appearance, Demerchant also pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen property and to a probation violation stemming from a separate incident in Woodstock on Sept. 17, 2024. Her trial will be held on July 23-24, at 9:30 a.m.
Arrested after police chase
Mason Darren Bustard, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on May 1 after being arrested on 11 charges related to a police chase the day before. He waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail to await his plea on May 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Bustard was charged with flight from police and mischief causing property damage to a lawn at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); breach of probation, possession of a stolen truck, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a knife), and breaching a release order in Woodstock; two counts of breaching his release order and mischief causing damage to his ankle bracelet in Bloomfield; and flight from police and theft of fuel in Florenceville-Bristol. All the incidents are alleged to have occurred on April 30.
He also appeared in provincial court on April 14 to answer three other charges laid by Woodstock Police. That matter was adjourned for plea until May 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Bustard was charged with possession of stolen property, possession of break-in tools and breach of probation in connection with a rash of vehicle break-ins on April 7-8 in the Elizabeth Street, Creighton Street and Rose Court areas.
Coldstream man facing sex charges
Donald Grant Ealey, 66, of Coldstream, will appear in provincial court on May 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Ealey was charged with sexual assault, touching for a sexual purpose, and engaging a minor in sexual activity in connection with incidents between May 1, 2025, and Feb. 2, 2026, at Howard Brook. He was scheduled to appear in court on April 28, when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Knoxford man to be sentenced
Jason Tribe, 41, of Knoxford, appeared in provincial court in custody on May 1 and was released with conditions to await his sentencing on May 26 at 1:30 p.m. A sentence of time served is expected for the accused.
Tribe pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, uttering threats, and breach of a no-contact order on Jan. 13 at Knoxford. The RCMP laid the charges. He was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 29. Judge Henrik Tonning ordered Tribe to have no contact with the complainant during his release.
Not-guilty verdict
Jeffrey Baker Christensen, 57, of Perth-Andover, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 29 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. The Crown called no evidence, and Judge Sebastian Michaud handed the accused a directed verdict of not guilty.
Christensen was charged by the RCMP with assault involving a female victim, stemming from an incident on March 23, 2025, at Perth-Andover.
Agreed to peace bonds
Jennifer Everett of Perth-Andover appeared for trial in provincial court on April 30 after pleading not guilty to a series of threat charges laid by the RCMP. She agreed to sign three separate 12-month peace bonds, and the trial did not proceed.
Everett appeared in provincial court in custody on March 25, 2025, and was released with conditions. She was charged with three counts of uttering threats on Feb. 11, 2025, on July 23, 2024, and on Sept. 6, 2023, in Perth-Andover. The peace bonds will result in the charges being withdrawn.
In custody awaiting trial
Brandon Coté, 30, of no fixed address, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on April 30 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was adjourned until May 6 at 9:30 a.m. due to a late disclosure from the Crown.
Coté was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Feb. 26. He was charged with flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump-action shotgun), breach of probation, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it in connection with an incident on Feb. 16 in Florenceville-Bristol when a spike belt was used to stop a vehicle. He has a prior criminal record.
Released to rehab facility
Jesse Colton Demerchant, 34, of Scott Siding, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on May 1 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. He was released with conditions, including an ankle monitor, to a rehab facility in Moncton.
Demerchant returns to court for trial on Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with two counts of breaching a no-contact order in Windsor on March 26, 2026, and June 25, 2025, and with breaching his release order in Stickney on Nov. 2, 2025. He was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on April 2.
Demerchant was also charged with breaching a no-contact order and resisting arrest on May 29, 2025, at Windsor and assault, assault with a weapon, and assault by choking involving a female victim on May 14, 2025, at Windsor. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 2, 2025, for a bail hearing, was released on conditions, and later entered a rehab facility.
Trial on multiple charges
Patrick Campbell, 29, of Carlingford, appeared in provincial court on May 1 for the continuation of his trial after pleading not guilty to multiple charges laid by the RCMP. The trial resumes on May 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Campbell was charged with breaching a no-contact order and obstructing the course of justice following an incident on March 3, 2025, at Carlingford. He pleaded not guilty and was released with conditions. All trial testimony has concluded on these two charges.
Campbell also pleaded not guilty to other charges of sexual assault involving a female victim, assault causing bodily harm, assault by choking, assault with a weapon (a knife), attempting to obstruct justice, and administering a noxious substance, in connection with incidents between 2020 and 2024 in Victoria County. Trial proceedings will continue on May 25 on this set of charges.
Trial continues in June
Cindy Demerchant, 53, of Lower Kintore, appeared in provincial court on May 1 for a hearing related to her trial on two charges laid by the RCMP. The trial will resume on June 9 at 9:30 a.m. Defence Counsel Wanda Severns will begin presenting defence evidence at that time.
Demerchant was charged with break-and-enter and theft of food and money from a Tim Hortons in Perth Andover between May 9 and May 31, 2024. She pleaded not guilty.
Evidence presented by the Crown at trial included video surveillance from the restaurant. Testimony from staff revealed that Demerchant, an employee, allegedly entered the premises after hours.
Trial date scheduled
Dana Newell, 28, of Perth-Andover, will appear for trial in provincial court on May 12, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP.
Newell was charged with theft of copper wire owned by Bell Aliant and breach of probation for an incident on Sept. 23, 2025, at Perth-Andover. Defence Counsel Wanda Severns entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf on May 1.
Juniper man to stand trial
Jeffrey Pike, 30, of Juniper, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 1 after pleading not guilty to two sets of charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was adjourned until May 13 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel. He was released on an undertaking until his trial.
Pike was charged with two counts of assault involving a female victim on Dec. 25, 2024, and Dec. 27, 2024, at Juniper; assault with a weapon (a dresser), and uttering threats between Dec. 25, 2024 and Dec. 27, 2024, at Juniper.
Pike was also charged with two counts of breaching an undertaking (no-contact order) on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 at Juniper, and with breach of an undertaking and obstructing the course of justice on Feb. 10 at Juniper. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant as part of his release.
Beechwood man charged
Eric Thomas Butler, 40, of Beechwood, will appear for trial in provincial court on May 19, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to a theft charge.
Butler was charged with theft from the bottle depot in Bath on Feb. 3. He made his first court appearance on April 28 and pleaded not guilty.
Wotstak man awaiting trial
Takoda Louis Lee Christian, 20, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on three separate dates after pleading not guilty to multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
A monitoring hearing on May 1 confirmed his trial dates for June 10 at 9:30 a.m., June 17 at 9:30 a.m., and July 6 at 9:30 a.m.
Christian appeared in court in custody via video on March 20 after being arrested in Fredericton. He was later released on conditions. Fredericton Police charged him with flight from police, dangerous driving and breaching a no-contact order.
In June 2025, Christian was released from custody in Woodstock to attend a rehab facility and was later ordered to undergo a mental health assessment. He pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges and was awaiting trial when he was rearrested in Fredericton.
Christian was charged by Woodstock Police with breach of a release order (house arrest) on April 16, 2025, at Wotstak, and breach of a no-contact order on April 14, 2025, in Woodstock.
He was also charged with assault and unlawful confinement between June 29, 2024, and July 4, 2024, at Wotstak; assault and two counts of assault by choking in Fredericton between Feb. 10, 2025, and Feb. 19, 2025; and mischief causing property damage to a cell phone between Feb. 10 and Feb. 19, 2025, at Wotstak.
He was also charged with assaulting another man with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and mischief, causing property damage to a window in connection with an incident on April 8, 2025, in Lansdowne.
Christian also faces charges laid by Woodstock Police following an assault outside the Royal Canadian Legion on Nov. 14, 2024. Police were called to the scene, and a man was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries.
Christian was charged with assault with a weapon (a vehicle), dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
He also appeared in provincial court on April 15, 2025, and pleaded not guilty to another indictable assault charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Christian pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault concerning an incident on March 25, 2025, at the AYR Motor Centre. Woodstock. Police said a 16-year-old victim suffered significant injuries in the incident and was transported to the Upper River Valley Hospital for treatment.
