Woodstock man gets two years for accident while driving drunk
A Woodstock man has been sentenced to federal prison for drunk driving and causing an accident that left three of his passengers with serious injuries.
Rylan McLeod, 22, of Woodstock, was sentenced on March 4 to two years in a federal institution. He pleaded guilty in provincial court to impaired driving causing bodily harm, and dangerous driving in relation to a single vehicle accident on Jan. 5, 2024, at Bulls Creek. Several other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Judge Henrik Tonning also prohibited McLeod from driving for two years and ordered him to register with the federal DNA database.
“This is just stupid driving,” Judge Tonning said. “The danger of this activity requires a significant sentence. He caused an awful lot of harm to a lot of people. It’s just lucky somebody wasn’t killed.”
McLeod apologized for his actions and said he planned to do some soul-searching while incarcerated.
“I’ll have a lot of time to think,” McLeod said.
Crown Prosecutor Patrick Wilbur told the court McLeod’s blood alcohol reading was double the legal limit when he lost control of the car he was driving and crashed into a set of concrete barriers at top speed. Two passengers in the back seat had to be extracted from the vehicle. All three of his passengers were hospitalized for serious injuries, and one required surgery.
Defence Counsel Emily Cochrane stressed that McLeod was a youthful offender with no criminal record. She said he gave up drinking and was also injured in the crash.
Released with ankle bracelet
Carly Rae Muzzerolle, 31, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 5 for a bail hearing on multiple theft and fraud charges laid by the RCMP. She was released on conditions, including a curfew and the requirement to wear an ankle monitor.
Muzzerolle returns to court on March 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea and to set a new trial date. She was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear for her Feb. 25 trial on a stolen property charge (a truck).
Muzzerolle also faces several additional charges, including two counts of identity theft, fraudulent impersonation, forgery, theft of mail, and possession of stolen mail, stemming from incidents between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2025, in Florenceville-Bristol. She has a dated prior criminal record.
Held for bail hearing
Christopher Elliott, 35, of Wapske, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 5 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to return to court for plea on charges laid by the RCMP. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on March 12 at 1:30 p.m.
Elliott was charged with breaking into a dwelling house and breaching probation in connection with an incident on March 31, 2025, at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). He had a bail hearing and was released on conditions, but did not return for the plea.
Decision on preliminary hearing
Patrick Harris, 40, of Hartland, and Tamara Hamilton, 30, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on April 20 at 1:30 p.m. for a decision on their preliminary hearing.
At that time, Judge Karen Lee will rule on whether there is enough evidence to send the pair to trial at the Court of King’s Bench. On March 6, the court heard that Harris was in custody in Saint John, that Hamilton missed her court appearance, and that a warrant was placed on file.
They pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a shooting in Mainstream in February 2025. The pair elected to have a trial by a judge alone at the Court of King’s Bench.
Harris appeared in court in custody via video on March 19, 2025, for his bail hearing and was released on conditions, including wearing an ankle electronic monitoring device. He later returned to custody.
Hamilton was released on Feb. 20, 2025, with conditions, including wearing an ankle electronic monitoring device. She was placed under house arrest with a curfew at a residence in Woodstock.
Harris was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present; possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence, wearing a mask with intent to commit an offence; uttering threats against another man, breach of probation, pointing a firearm at another person, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and being an occupant of a vehicle (a half-ton truck) knowing it carried a firearm.
Hamilton 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 firearm.
The pair was arrested by the RCMP inside a garage in Pembroke after a blue half-ton truck was spotted leaving the scene of the shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 17, 2025.
Remanded to rehab in Moncton
Shane Lee Dickison, 38, of Hodgdon Road, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 6 for a bail hearing after being remanded for a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. He was found fit to stand trial and was released to a rehab facility in Moncton.
Dickison returns to court for plea on April 8 at 1:30 p.m. He was charged by the RCMP with breach of probation, assaulting another man, two counts of uttering threats, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and resisting arrest on Feb. 4 at Mapledale; and uttering threats between Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 at Mapledale. A peace bond request was later filed by two complainants.
A police operation in the Mapledale area on the evening of Feb. 4 led to Dickison’s arrest. The RCMP issued a media release asking the public to avoid Hodgdon Road between Bedell Settlement and Teed Road due to a police presence in the area.
Sentencing in June
Travis Terrance McDougall, 33, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 4 and changed his plea on one charge laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was set for June 16 at 1:30 p.m.
McDougall was charged with 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. On March 4, he pleaded guilty to obstructing police and agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond in relation to the threat charge.
McDougall appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Nov. 7, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released on conditions. The peace bond will result in the threat charge being withdrawn.
Suspended sentence and probation
Phillip Campbell, 24, of Plaster Rock, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on March 5.
Campbell pleaded guilty to breach of an undertaking (no contact) and assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on Oct. 6, 2024, at Perth-Andover. He was ordered to seek counselling as required and have no contact with the complainant.
Judge Karen Lee noted there were no injuries from the assault that involved “pushing and shoving over a phone.” She said Campbell was remorseful about the incident and was working full-time. He had no previous criminal record.
Trial adjourned
London Murchison, 20, of Plaster Rock, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 5 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was rescheduled for May 25 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of the Crown.
Murchison was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) and possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife) concerning an incident on Sept. 2, 2024, at Plaster Rock.
On March 5, Crown Prosecutor Sean Corscadden told the court some disclosure issues needed to be resolved before the trial could proceed.
Trial on multiple charges
Patrick Campbell, 29, of Carlingford, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 2 and March 5 after pleading not guilty to multiple charges laid by the RCMP. After two days of proceedings, the trial was adjourned for continuation on May 1 and 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 in May on this set of charges.
Agreed to peace bond
Collin Francis Bear, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on March 5 for a monitoring hearing regarding his trial on charges laid by the RCMP.
Bear was charged with mischief and assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident at Neqotkuk in 2024. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
In custody awaiting sentence
Christian Mario Albert, 39, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 5 and pleaded guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was booked for April 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Albert pleaded guilty to attempting to steal a motor vehicle and breach of probation for an incident on Oct. 28, 2025, in Woodstock. The court heard he was also facing other charges in Edmundston.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via video in November for a fitness hearing after completing a 30-day mental health assessment at Restigouche hospital. He was found fit to stand trial and then waived his bail.
Bail hearing and trial
Joshua Jarrett, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 5 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was booked for June 8 at 9:30 a.m. He then requested a bail hearing, which was set for March 9 at 1:30 p.m.
Jarrett was charged by the RCMP with flight from police, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, breach of probation and driving while suspended on Feb. 5 in Woodstock; and theft of a truck on Feb. 5 in East Brighton.
Denied bail and remanded
Henry Douglas Oakes, 56, of Fredericton, formerly of Greenfield, was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 6. He returns to court in custody to set a new trial date on March 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Oakes was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear for trial on Jan. 7. He pleaded not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 4, 2025, and was released with conditions.
He was charged by Woodstock Police with impaired driving on Aug. 6, 2024, and theft from the Superstore on July 12, 2024, in Woodstock. He was also charged by the RCMP with breach of an undertaking (no driving) on May 15, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol.
Oakes also faces a new charge of failing to attend court and will enter a plea on March 24 at 9:30 a.m. He had a prior criminal record.
Remanded for bail hearing
James Blair Hovey, 29, of Perth Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 5 for a bail hearing on five charges laid by the RCMP. The hearing was adjourned until March 12 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Hovey was charged with resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer, possession of a stolen snowmobile, flight from police and breach of probation following an incident on Feb. 24 at Florenceville-Bristol.
Sentencing on sex charge
David Hayden, 73, of Tracey Mills, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on April 13 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on one sex charge laid by the RCMP.
Hayden pleaded guilty on Friday to solicitation of a minor for sexual services concerning an incident on Sept. 12, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol. Another charge of sexual assault was withdrawn by the Crown.
Awaiting trial date
Robin Sappier, 47, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on March 26 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for her trial after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Sappier was charged with assaulting a male victim on Aug. 28, 2025, at Neqotkuk. On March 5, the court heard that a resolution with the Crown is still being sought.
Trial in April
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on March 5 for a monitoring hearing regarding her April trial.
Woodstock Police charged her with fraudulent impersonation, using a credit card knowing it was obtained by fraudulent means, and defrauding Walmart in Woodstock between Aug. 10, 2019, and June 23, 2023.
Her trial date was set for April 2 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard that a resolution is being sought with the Crown. A sentencing date on other charges will also be determined at her trial.
Phillips pleaded guilty to breaching her release order (ankle bracelet) and breaking into a dwelling house on July 8, 2025, in Upper Woodstock.
At an earlier court appearance, she pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on March 16, 2025, in Wilmot. Another charge of breaching her curfew (release order) on March 17, 2025, was withdrawn.
She also pleaded guilty to flight from police and driving while suspended on Feb. 24, 2024, in Jacksonville. Another charge of dangerous driving was withdrawn by the Crown. A separate charge of driving while suspended on Feb. 6, 2024, and a breach charge from Jan. 23, 2025, were also withdrawn.
Phillips was also charged with unlawful entry at a dwelling house and illegal possession of methamphetamine on March 31, 2024, in Woodstock.
She appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 29, 2025, for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Shediac under full house arrest. The court heard she is enrolled in a 12-month program.
