Woodstock man sentenced to 150 days
Nicholas McConnell-Kinney, 29, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and was sentenced to a total of 150 days in jail after pleading guilty to five charges, including a violent assault on a police officer.
He was also placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to seek counselling as required. McConnell-Kinney must register with the federal DNA database. He had a limited prior criminal record.
RCMP charged McConnell-Kinney with breaching his curfew on Feb. 8 and Dec. 10, 2023, at Hartland. He pleaded guilty to both offences.
He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, and committing mischief by breaking a police officer’s glasses in connection with another incident on Jan. 1, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol.
In pronouncing the sentence, Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean said the assault on the police officer involved a “high level of violence.” The accused punched the police officer three times in the face, spat on him, and then tried to escape from custody.
Police stopped McConnell-Kinney on Route 110 around 1 a.m. on New Year’s Day for suspected impaired driving and found liquor in his vehicle. He was arrested at the scene, but police did not administer a breathalyzer demand due to his volatile behaviour.
Defence Counsel Alex Carleton said McConnell-Kinney suffered from an alcohol problem since high school but had been sober for the past year.
The defence noted McConnell-Kinney lost his left arm to bone cancer and since then struggled with mental health issues. He had a strong work record despite his disability.
The court heard McConnell-Kinney also owed a $2,600 fine for refusing a breathalyzer in the previous offence. In lieu of the unpaid fine, a concurrent sentence of 23 days in jail was imposed.
Suspended sentence, probation for threats
Shawn Robert Cole, 52, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation.
Cole changed his plea to guilty on a threat charge. Woodstock Police charged him with uttering a threat against a female victim in connection with an incident on Nov. 19, 2022, in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Trial decision pending for Centreville man
Jared Oakes, 42, of Centreville, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 10 after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge. After one day of testimony, the trial was adjourned until Aug. 9 at 1:30 p.m. for a verdict.
RCMP charged Oakes in connection with an incident on March 9, 2023, at Weston. The charge was laid after a man was found passed out in a truck in a private driveway around 5 p.m. The individual was slumped over behind the wheel with the vehicle still running. It took several minutes for the police to wake him up and make their arrest. A breathalyzer demand measured his blood alcohol level at three times the legal limit.
Glassville man to stand trial
Christopher Demerchant, 44, of Glassville, will appear for trial in provincial court on May 28, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with uttering threats involving a female victim and forcible entry concerning an incident on March 10 at Mount Pleasant. He was also charged with prowling at night at a dwelling house in Mount Pleasant on March 5.
He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on June 11. To confirm his readiness to proceed to trial, a monitoring date was set for Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Neqotkuk man to enter plea
Joshua Sisson, 37, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on charges laid by RCMP.
Sisson was charged with assault with a weapon (a bottle) involving a female victim, assault, and two counts of uttering threats in connection with an incident on April 8 at Neqotkuk. He made his first court appearance on June 11, when the matter was adjourned to the new date. Sisson was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Facing threat charge
Richard Evan Stockford, 30, of Waterville, will appear in provincial court on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a threat charge.
Woodstock Police charged Stockford with uttering threats against a local lawyer in connection with an incident on April 17, 2023. He made his first court appearance on June 11, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Released with conditions
Jack Michael Pirie, 20, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 10 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Pirie was arrested on a warrant. Woodstock Police charged him with assaulting police with intent to resist arrest on June 8 in Woodstock.
Bail hearing adjourned
Shane Lee Dickison, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on July 2 at 11 a.m.
Dickison appeared in court in custody on June 6 and was charged with breaching his curfew on June 5 at Hodgdon Road. He was remanded for a bail hearing at that time.
He is also facing charges of two counts of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving another man, two counts of uttering threats, breach of a peace bond, and resisting arrest in connection with incidents on April 23 and May 6 in Lower Woodstock. He appeared in court on June 4 to answer the charges and was scheduled to return for plea on June 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Dickison appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 16 for a bail hearing. After an earlier 35-day jail sentence was served, an order was made to release him from custody with conditions on May 30.
He was released with an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was ordered to follow a curfew, abstain from drugs and have no contact with the complainants but was re-arrested.
Arrested and released, charges withdrawn
Travis Terrance McDougall, 32, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 10 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court in April. He was released from custody, and the crown withdrew other charges against him.
Woodstock Police charged McDougall with uttering threats, breach of probation and assaulting a female victim in connection with an incident on July 17, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty in November; his trial date was set for Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. The crown withdrew those charges on June 10.
Released from custody with ankle bracelet
Christopher Hazen Hamilton, 50, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 10 for a bail hearing on 12 charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was released from custody with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Hamilton returns to court for plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, three counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a broken teacup) and attempting to cause injury and suffering to a dog, concerning incidents between March 1 and May 24 in Woodstock.
Hamilton was also charged with assaulting a female victim, uttering threats and mischief causing property damage on May 25, and assaulting a female victim and assault with a weapon (a cigar) on May 26. The alleged incidents occurred in Woodstock. He spent several days in remand before his release.
Bail hearing scheduled
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to one charge laid by RCMP. She returns to court for a bail hearing on June 13 at 9:30 a.m., when a date for her trial will be set.
RCMP charged Brooker with being at large on a release order for an incident on May 30 at Perth-Andover.
The court heard a conditional sentence order was revoked, and she was ordered to serve the remainder of her sentence in jail. She is scheduled to be released from custody on June 27. Brooker has a prior criminal record.
Regis Bowmaster, 30, of Bairdsville, also appeared in court in custody on May 30 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on June 25 at 1:30 p.m. He was arrested on a warrant and charged with breaching a release order by failing to appear in court on Feb. 13.
Richmond Corner woman to stand trial
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of Richmond Corner, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to 10 charges. Her trial dates were set for June 2, June 4, and June 6, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Phillips was charged by RCMP with flight from police and dangerous driving following an incident on Feb. 24 at Jacksonville.
Woodstock Police also charged her with flight from police and driving while suspended on Feb. 6, fraudulent impersonation, using a credit card knowing it was obtained by fraudulent means, and defrauding the Walmart in Woodstock between Aug. 10, 2019, and June 23, 2023.
She appeared in provincial court in custody on April 18 on another charge of breaching her curfew laid by Woodstock Police.
Phillips appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 2 on other charges laid by Woodstock Police. She was released with conditions at that time, including a curfew. She was charged with possession of methamphetamine and breaking into a dwelling house on March 31 in Woodstock.
She is also scheduled for trial on Jan. 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in relation to other separate charges. She appeared in court on Feb. 20 to get a new trial date after coming to court in January unprepared for her trial.
Phillips was charged by Woodstock Police with possession of stolen property (a Sobeys gift card) in connection with an incident on May 30, 2022, in Woodstock.
Bail hearing rescheduled
Zachary Sarchfield of Hartland will appear in provincial court in custody by video on June 20 at 9:30 a.m. for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant. He was scheduled for a bail hearing on June 7, but the matter was adjourned to the new date.
RCMP charged Sarchfield with two counts of unlawful confinement, assault, and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Jan. 18 after being arrested on a warrant in Fredericton. He was released with conditions but failed to return to court for plea in February. Sarchfield also failed to appear in court to answer charges on Jan. 16, and a warrant was issued.
Plea adjourned on 10 charges
Emily McSheffrey, 26, of Waterville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 for plea on charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until June 20 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
McSheffrey was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, theft of a TV, and breach of probation for an incident in Woodstock between April 8 and April 16. She was also charged with shoplifting at the Superstore on March 21.
McSheffrey was remanded to jail on May 14 on six other charges laid by RCMP.
RCMP charged her with assault with a weapon (a hammer) involving a male victim, mischief causing property damage and breach of probation concerning an incident on April 27 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
She was also charged with assaulting another man, breach of a peace bond, and breach of probation for another incident on May 4 at Killoween.
Moved to alternative measures
Benjamin Watson, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on June 11 to hear the crown move all charges against him to the alternative measures program. He has until Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. to complete the program’s requirements to have the charges withdrawn.
Watson appeared in provincial court on Feb. 27 and pleaded not guilty to four charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Nov. 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police charged him with assault with a weapon (a cell phone), assault involving a female victim, breach of a peace bond and breach of probation concerning an incident on Dec. 16, 2023, in Woodstock.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 22, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. The crown lifted a no-contact order during his court appearance on June 10.
Trial dates set for Jacksontown woman
Bonnie Noel, 55, of Jacksontown, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to four charges laid by RCMP. Her trial dates were set for March 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. and June 13, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Noel was charged with breach of an undertaking (no contact) on Feb. 18 at Canterbury, breach of an undertaking (no contact) and breach of curfew on April 1 at North Lake, and breach of an undertaking (no contact) on Jan. 21 at North Lake.
A monitoring date was set for Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm she has legal counsel to proceed to trial.
Noel appeared in provincial court on March 12 and pleaded not guilty to two other charges laid by RCMP. Her trial date was set for Oct. 28 at 1:30 p.m. A monitoring date was also scheduled for July 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Noel was charged with assault on a male victim and resisting arrest, stemming from an incident on Jan. 19 near North Lake.
Returning for plea
Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on June 11 for plea on two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until June 25 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Sullivan with breaching a peace bond and uttering threats concerning an incident on April 27 at Gladwyn. The court heard he was currently in custody in Fredericton on other matters.
Sullivan appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 9 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was residing at a homeless shelter in Fredericton but told the court on June 11 that he was moving to Plaster Rock once he was released from jail.
Sullivan was also scheduled for trial in provincial court on Aug. 22-23 at 9:30 a.m. RCMP charged him with uttering threats, assault and assault by choking involving a female victim in connection with incidents between July 14 and Aug. 20, 2023, near Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty. The crown withdrew those charges during his court appearance on June 11.
In custody on multiple charges
Kyle Lucas Stairs, 25, of Temperance Vale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 to answer charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court in custody for plea on June 25 at 11 a.m.
Stairs was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle and theft of fuel concerning an incident on April 5 at Perth-Andover. He also has several other charges before the court.
Stairs appeared in court in custody by video on April 11 and was remanded. The RCMP charged him with possession of methamphetamine, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), possession of a weapon while prohibited from having it, resisting arrest, mischief causing property damage to a police vehicle, and breach of probation concerning an incident on April 8 in Nackawic.
Woodstock Police also charged him with flight from police, dangerous driving, driving while suspended, and breach of probation for an incident on April 8 in Woodstock. He also faces an additional charge of failing to report to probation between Dec. 5 and Dec. 8, 2023, in Woodstock.
Two charged in break-in
Michael Holt, 68, of Riverglade, will appear in provincial court on July 23 at 9:30 a.m. to answer charges related to a break-in at the tourist bureau at Richmond Corner. He appeared in court on June 11 for plea when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Mitchell Hillman, 36, of Wilmot, was also charged in relation to the same break-in. He appeared in provincial court on June 11 when the matter was adjourned for plea on July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
The pair was charged by RCMP with break, enter and theft in connection with an incident on Feb. 19.
East Brighton man awaiting trial
Eric Vrieze, 47, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
Vrieze was charged with assaulting police with a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and resisting arrest concerning an incident on May 6 at Hartland.
Awaiting plea on firearm charges
Jeffrey David Watson, 33, of Johnville, will appear in provincial court on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. to answer three firearm charges laid by RCMP. He appeared in court on June 11 for plea when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Watson was charged with possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, and careless use of a firearm in relation to an incident on Nov. 27, 2023, at Lower Kintore.
Neqotkuk woman pleads not guilty
Maurene Anne Nicholas, 48, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge. Her trial date was set for May 7, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Nicholas with assaulting another woman near Perth-Andover on Oct. 28, 2022.
Trial date pending
Steven Derek Trecartin, 46, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to a threat charge. He returns to court on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial.
Woodstock Police charged Trecartin with uttering threats against a female victim following an incident on Nov. 1, 2023, in Woodstock.
In custody awaiting trial
Ian Stewart Bishop, 41, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 11 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. His trial dates were set for Aug. 30 at 1:30 p.m. and Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. He remains in custody.
Bishop was denied bail when appeared in court in custody by video on April 25.
RCMP arrested him in connection with two break-ins, one at the local civic centre and another at a dwelling house in Perth-Andover.
Bishop was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house and theft of tools on March 30 and break and enter and theft of tools at the River Valley Civic Centre on April 1. Bishop has a prior criminal record.
Neqotkuk man has new charge
Brock Vollmar, 47, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on June 11 to answer an assault charge laid by RCMP. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for April 23, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Vollmar was charged with assault involving a female victim for an incident on May 6 at Neqotkuk. A monitoring date was set for Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed to trial. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
He also appeared in provincial court on March 12 to set a date for his trial on a separate fraud charge. The trial was set for March 26-27, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Vollmar was charged by the RCMP with defrauding the band office of more than $5,000 during incidents between July 2 and July 4, 2022, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Feb. 2.
Trial adjourned to December
Kevin Coutts, 65, of Lower Kintore, was scheduled to stand trial on May 31 on two charges. The trial was adjourned until Dec. 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Coutts was charged with failing to appear in court and assault, stemming from an incident on June 10, 2023, at Kintore. He pleaded not guilty.
Quebec man awaits sentencing
Dylan Mallette-Jerome, 20, of Gasgapegiag, Quebec, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on June 11 to answer a charge of having a stolen vehicle. He told the court he was currently serving an 18-month sentence in Quebec jail on other matters.
Mallette-Jerome was charged by RCMP with possession of a stolen vehicle for an incident on Aug. 10, 2023, at Plaster Rock. He pleaded guilty, and his sentencing was set for July 9 at 1:30 p.m.