Bairdsville man sentenced to house arrest, probation
Regis Bowmaster, 32, of Bairdsville, received a 12-month conditional sentence order when he appeared in provincial court on Sept. 23 on numerous charges laid by the RCMP.
Bowmaster will serve eight months under house arrest and four months of following a curfew. He was also given 12 months of probation and ordered to complete 25 hours of community service.
He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen truck on Jan. 4, 2024, at Bairdsville; guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon (a sawed-off shotgun), improper storage of a firearm, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun on May 27, 2024, at Perth Andover; guilty to possession of a stolen snowmobile on April 2, 2023, at Wicklow; and guilty to breaching a release order (house arrest) on Oct. 23, 2024, at Pembroke. The Crown withdrew five other charges.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Nov. 4, 2024. He was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. The ankle bracelet was removed after his sentencing hearing on Sept. 23. The sawed-off shotgun was forfeited to the Crown.
The court heard Bowmaster had turned his life around since committing the offences. He was ordered to seek counselling and treatment for drug addiction during his probationary period to help him maintain his recovery. Bowmaster had a prior criminal record.
Charged in violent assault
Andrew Pickle, 54, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 23 to answer charges related to a violent assault on a local property tax assessor. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Pickle was charged by the RCMP with assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, and indictable mischief following an incident on Aug. 28 in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 29 and was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Denied bail and remanded
Logan Estey, 20, of Woodstock, was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 22. He was charged with breaching his release order and was remanded to jail to await his plea until Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m.
Estey also appeared in provincial court on Aug. 12 and pleaded not guilty to another breach charge laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Oct. 28, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Estey appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 5 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions (ankle bracelet). He was charged with breaching a release order (no contact) for an incident on June 1 in Woodstock.
At an earlier court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to other separate matters, and three trial dates were set: Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 4, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., and March 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Estey was charged by the RCMP with assault, assault with a weapon (a car), and dangerous driving following an incident on July 24, 2024, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no further contact with the complainant. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8, 2024, and was released with conditions.
He was also charged with mischief, causing property damage to a window, and possession of a firearm for the purpose of committing an offence in connection with an incident on Jan. 1, 2024, in Upper Woodstock. The court heard Estey was also facing more charges in Fredericton.
Fined for impaired driving
Larry Scott Grant, 58, of Woodstock, was fined $2,600 after pleading guilty to impaired driving on Sept. 23.
The Woodstock Police charged Grant in connection with an incident that occurred on June 2 in Woodstock. He was also prohibited from driving for one year.
Benton man awaits bail hearing
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 23 to set a date for his bail hearing. Judge Karen Lee scheduled the hearing for Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Hayes with dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while suspended, and breach of a release order concerning an incident on July 25 in Woodstock.
RCMP also charged him with obstructing police following an incident on Aug. 15 near Meductic when a male suspect jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody.
Hayes was also charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14 in Benton. On Aug. 18, Hayes waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail.
On July 25, police were patrolling the Benton area when they encountered a male individual driving an ATV without a helmet. The driver was identified as Hayes, who was subject to several conditions, including a prohibition against driving and the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, which he allegedly cut off.
Police reported that Hayes rammed a police vehicle with his ATV when officers tried to stop him and then fled the scene.
A short time later, police observed Hayes driving his ATV through the parking lot of the RCMP detachment in Woodstock and across the front lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse. Both properties sustained minor damage.
House arrest, probation
David Fleming, 20, of Plaster Rock, received a nine-month conditional sentence order when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Sept. 23.
Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of flight from police on Feb. 15 in Beaconsfield and in Aroostook. The Crown withdrew a second charge.
The conditional sentence order requires Fleming to serve six months of house arrest and three months of following a curfew. He will be permitted to attend work.
In custody awaiting trial
Connell McLean, 29, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 23 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were set for March 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and April 30, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
McLean was denied bail on July 28 after being arrested on a warrant in connection with several offences under the Criminal Code. Police had been on a manhunt for McLean since the warrant for his arrest was issued on July 17.
McLean was charged with two counts of fleeing from police and dangerous driving for incidents on July 15 and July 16 in Wilmot.
He was also charged with possession of a stolen side-by-side, altering the serial number on the vehicle, and flight from police on July 22 at Wilmot and resisting arrest on July 25 at Summerfield. McLean has a prior criminal record.
Charged in police stand-off
Travis Terrance McDougall, 32, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on March 4, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police.
He was charged with two counts of uttering threats and obstructing police in connection with a stand-off on Nov. 2, 2024, when an individual barricaded himself inside a residence in Woodstock.
McDougall appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Nov. 7, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. His trial was first scheduled for Sept. 25, 2025, but was adjourned to the new date.
Awaiting plea on four charges
Justin Porter, 43, of Plaster Rock, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on four charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Porter was charged with driving while suspended, dangerous driving, fleeing police and breach of probation concerning an incident on May 20 in Woodstock. He appeared in court on Sept. 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Sentencing postponed
Yves Levesque, 36, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 23 for sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
His sentencing was adjourned after he pleaded not guilty to seven more charges. Levesque returns to court in custody for his trial on April 10, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A new sentencing date will be set at that time.
Levesque pleaded guilty to assaulting a female victim on Aug. 14, 2024, at New Denmark; guilty to assault on the same female between Oct. 1 and Oct. 27, 2024, at McLaughlin, Victoria County; guilty to uttering threats and assault by choking on Oct. 28, 2024, at Perth-Andover; guilty to uttering threats, and assault by choking on Oct. 31, 2024, at McLaughlin; guilty to assault with a weapon (a helmet), uttering threats, assault causing bodily harm, and break and enter at a dwelling house on Dec. 20, 2024, at McLaughlin; guilty to break and enter and theft, and mischief causing property damage to a shed on Dec. 21, 2024, at McLaughlin; guilty to assaulting the same female victim on Nov. 22, 2024, in Grand Falls, and breach of probation on Oct. 22, 2024, in Grand Falls.
The Crown withdrew nine other charges.
Fredericton man has two charges
Jeremy William Graves, 31, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 8 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Graves was charged with uttering threats and assaulting another man following an incident on April 10 in Woodstock. He appeared in court on Sept. 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Returning for plea
David Sisson, 42, of Rosedale, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. to answer a breach charge laid by the RCMP.
Sisson was charged with breaching a release order (no-contact) in connection with an incident on June 7 at Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in court on Sept. 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Charged with assault
Roxanne Carol Kinney, 56, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Kinney was charged with assaulting another woman on April 12 in Woodstock. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 23.
Jinson awaiting plea
Jacob Jinson, 26, of Somerville, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 23 to answer three charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Jinson was charged with uttering threats on April 10, 2024, in Somerville, breaching his curfew on April 20, 2024, and failing to appear in court on Aug. 6, 2024. The court heard that a resolution is being sought with the Crown.
Sentencing date pending
James Blair Hovey, 28, of Perth Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 23 to set a new date for his sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
His sentencing was adjourned to allow more time for the transfer of other charges from Fredericton and Miramichi. Hovey returns to court in custody on Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm a date for his sentencing.
Hovey pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and theft of keys on Nov. 27, 2024, in New Denmark. Another charge of theft of tools was withdrawn.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen ATV, breach of probation and flight from police on March 30, 2024, at Tobique Narrows; guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and breaching his curfew on Oct. 25, 2024, at Perth Andover; guilty to flight from police, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and breaching his curfew on Nov. 27, 2024, at Plaster Rock; and guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation on Jan. 9 at Carlingford. Two other charges were withdrawn.
The court heard the Crown would be seeking a one-year jail sentence for all counts. Hovey has been in custody since his arrest in January.
Hovey was also charged by the Woodstock Police with breach of probation and break, enter, and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26, 2024.
Beechwood woman to stand trial
Courtney Demerchant, 28, of Beechwood, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two assault charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2024, in Beechwood. Her defence counsel entered her not-guilty plea on her behalf on Sept. 23.
Warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Brandon Tomah, 36, of no fixed address, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Sept. 23 to enter a plea.
Tomah was charged with resisting arrest on Jan. 26 at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) and theft of a motor vehicle on Jan. 29 at Perth-Andover. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 5 and was released with conditions.
Trial for alleged assault
Jade Marvin Craft, 52, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Craft was charged with assault with a weapon stemming from an incident on April 29 at Neqotkuk. The trial date was confirmed during a monitoring hearing on Sept. 23.
Plea adjourned
Tamara Hamilton, 30, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 23 to answer a breach charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Hamilton was charged with breaching a release order by being unlawfully at large on Sept. 9 at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). She appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Sept. 10 and was released with conditions.
Hamilton is also facing other separate charges. She and co-accused, Patrick Harris, 40, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on April 8 to answer charges stemming from a shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 17. They are awaiting trial at the Court of King’s Bench.
Hamilton was released on Feb. 20 with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle. She was placed under house arrest with a curfew at a residence in Woodstock.
She was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun.
Jointly charged with trafficking
Dominique Gray, 26, of no fixed address, and Larry Shane Kennedy, 50, of Kirkland, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 23 and pleaded not guilty to a drug trafficking charge. Their trial dates were set for Oct. 26, 2026, and Oct. 28-29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
They were jointly charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking on May 29 in Kirkland. Kennedy was also charged with breaching a release order for the same incident on May 29. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Aug. 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Kennedy and Joshua Sterling Trail, 42, of Hartland, are also awaiting trial in December on other separate charges. Trail was remanded to jail after being denied bail.
They were each charged with possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine, both for the purpose of trafficking on Feb. 16 in Kirkland; indictable robbery of a motor vehicle on Feb. 5 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); illegal possession of a firearm (a Russian SKS semi-automatic rifle), and improper storage of a gun on Feb. 16 at Kirkland. A monitoring hearing is set for Sept. 25 at 9 a.m.
Joshua Trail was also charged with fraudulent impersonation for a separate incident on Dec. 9, 2024, at Richmond Corner. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was rescheduled for March 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. That trial date may now have to be moved up due to Trail being in custody.
Trail was also charged 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.
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 breach of probation concerning 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 set for boat incident
Douglas Thomas Defazio, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Sept. 22 and pleaded guilty to one charge laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was set for Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Defazio was released with conditions following a bail hearing on Aug. 22 and was ordered to enter rehab. He was arrested by Woodstock Police shortly after a stolen boat crashed on the rocks of the Meduxnekeag River on July 10, where the vessel was abandoned and the suspect swam to shore.
Defazio was charged with two counts of breaking and entering a dwelling house, mischief causing property damage, and breach of probation in connection with break-ins at two different residences on Grant Street and Houlton Street on July 10. He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house during his court appearance on Sept. 22.
Bail hearing scheduled
Nicholas Erikson, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 23 and requested a bail hearing. Judge Karen Lee set the bail hearing for Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
The RCMP charged Erikson with resisting arrest on Aug. 13 at Benton, as well as breaking into a dwelling house and possession of stolen property on Aug. 12 at Oak Mountain. He will enter a plea on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
File being transferred
Andrew St. Peter, 32, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court via teleconference for a monitoring hearing. His plea was adjourned until Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the transfer of a file from Edmundston.
St. Peter appeared in provincial court on April 8 via teleconference and pleaded not guilty to five other charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for April 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
St. Peter was charged with two counts of breaching a release order by failing to report to police between Jan. 1 and March 11 at Weaver, and three counts of uttering threats on March 10 at Weaver. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
Kilburn man charged
Colby Bell, 20, of Kilburn, will appear in provincial court on Oct. 21 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge.
The RCMP charged Bell following an incident on April 24 at Aroostook. He appeared in court on Sept. 23 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Trial continues in November
Arthur Thibodeau of Lower Brighton will appear in provincial court on Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. for the continuation of his trial on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Thibodeau pleaded not guilty to uttering threats and assault with a golf club concerning an incident on July 21 at Lower Brighton. The first day of the trial took place on Sept. 22.
