Perth-Andover man handed 99 days in jail
Mitchell LaFrance, 26, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 13 for sentencing on two charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 99 days in jail and was placed on 12 months of probation.
LaFrance pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking by failing to comply with a no-contact order on Oct. 2, 2023, at East Brighton.
He also pleaded guilty to criminal harassment for incidents between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 2023, in Lower Brighton, involving the same female complainant. The court heard he tried to contact the same female victim hundreds of times by phone, text message and on Facebook. The crown withdrew a threat charge.
LaFrance was taken into custody on a new charge of breaching his release order for an incident on Jan. 24 in Edmundston.
At a previous court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to other offences and a trial date was set for Jan. 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
LaFrance appeared in court in custody by video on Dec. 16, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. RCMP charged him in connection with an alleged breach of his house arrest on Dec. 7, 2024. He pleaded not guilty.
RCMP also charged LaFrance with breaching a no-contact order for an incident on Sept. 21, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol. He also faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim stemming from an incident on July 19, 2024, at Carlingford. He pleaded not guilty.
Nortondale woman fined $1,300
Kayley Ann Briand, 23, of Nortondale, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 14 for sentencing after pleading guilty to an impaired driving charge. She was fined $1,300 and was prohibited from driving for one year.
Woodstock Police charged Briand in connection with an incident on May 17, 2024, in Woodstock. She had no prior criminal record. The court heard she was charged following a collision on Connell Street.
Charges withdrawn
Philip McCarthy, 39, of Grand Falls, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 11 for monitoring on an assault charge that was diverted to the alternative measures program. The court heard he completed the program requirements, and the charge was withdrawn.
RCMP charged McCarthy with assault involving a female victim concerning an incident on July 28 at Riley Brook. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set. On Nov. 5, 2024, the matter was moved to alternative measures with the consent of the crown.
Conditional discharge, probation
Tammy Schloemer, 60, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 14 for sentencing on two charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police. She received a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation.
Judge Natalie LeBlanc also ordered Schloemer to complete 30 hours of community service work, and she must seek counselling for addiction and mental health.
Schloemer pleaded guilty to mischief causing property damage to a window on Oct. 3, 2021, at a residence at Neqotkuk and guilty to theft of merchandise at the Woodstock Superstore on April 20, 2023. The court heard Schloemer attempted to leave the store with two shopping carts full of groceries. The crown withdrew another charge of assault with a weapon (a stick).
Schloemer also returns to court on March 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a separate shoplifting charge following another incident on Sept. 10, 2024, at the Woodstock Superstore. She was taken into custody on Feb. 11 and released with conditions.
A co-accused, William (Billy) Harding, 34, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 10 to answer two charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions and also returns to court for plea on March 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Harding was charged with theft from the Superstore and breach of probation following the same incident in Woodstock on Sept. 10, 2024.
Released with conditions
Jeffrey Pike of Juniper appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 14 on four charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on March 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Pike was charged with two counts of breaching an undertaking (no contact order) on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9 at Juniper and 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.
Sentencing set on four charges
Ronald Dwayne Scott, 30, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 14 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for May 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Scott was charged with assaulting another man, willfully causing damage to a vehicle, dangerous driving, and flight from police for an incident on Nov. 10, 2022, in Woodstock. He was arrested and released from custody on a release order.
Sentencing rescheduled on sex charge
A River de Chute man facing jail on a sex charge appeared in provincial court on Feb. 13 for a hearing about his request to withdraw his guilty plea on a sex charge.
Martin Sargefield, 30, was charged by RCMP with touching a female minor for a sexual purpose (indictable) between July 1, 2016, and July 22, 2022.
He pleaded guilty, and the evidence against him was read into the record by the crown for his sentencing. The court heard about a series of sexual acts involving Sargefield and the victim over a period of six years.
Sargefield then requested to withdraw his guilty plea. Judge Karen Lee reviewed court transcripts with him, noting he answered the charge on the record by saying: “I’m guilty for the things I did.” He also gave testimony at the hearing on Thursday.
Judge Lee ruled his guilty plea would stand, and his sentencing was rescheduled for March 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Two other sex charges, which were to be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing, will remain before the court as a result of Sargefield’s request to take back his guilty plea.
Glassville man to stand trial
Timothy Maurice Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, will appear for trial in provincial court early next year after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP.
Thibodeau was charged with 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. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4, 2024, and was released with conditions.
He will stand trial on the drug charge on Jan. 15-16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. His trial on the remaining two charges was rescheduled for Jan. 5, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. A monitoring date was also scheduled for Oct. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Released and charges withdrawn
Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Rosedale, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Feb. 12. He was released, and the charges against him were withdrawn.
RCMP charged Nowlan with assaulting a female, assault with a weapon, assault by choking and uttering threats concerning incidents which occurred between Jan. 29 and Feb. 1 at Rosedale.
Bail hearing delayed
Tanna Wright of Perth-Andover appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 12 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. She remains in custody.
RCMP charged Wright with breaching a no-contact order, assault, assault by choking and uttering threats against another woman concerning incidents on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 at Weaver. She also faces a theft charge (a wallet) in connection with a separate incident.
Change of plea
Justin Porter, 42, of Plaster Rock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 13 and changed his plea to guilty on a fraud charge laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for May 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Porter was also charged with fraud in connection with an incident on Sept. 1, 2022, in Plaster Rock.
New trial date
Dana Spencer, 42, of Fredericton, appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 14 on three charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until July 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the crown’s request.
Spencer was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats on April 15, 2024, at Maplehurst, and breach of an undertaking (no contact order) for an incident on April 24, 2024, at Maplehurst. He pleaded not guilty.
An application by the crown for the complainant to testify by video conference was granted by Judge Natalie LeBlanc.
Spencer told the court he intends to plead guilty to another charge of refusing a breathalyzer demand concerning a separate incident on Aug. 19, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol. He will enter his guilty plea at his court appearance in July.
He also said he wanted to apply for a variation to his release order as he had been wearing an ankle bracelet for an extended period.
Stay of proceedings
The crown was granted a stay of proceedings on a file concerning Cheng Dela Cruz, 29, of no fixed address. As a result, the case will not proceed.
Dela Cruz was charged by Woodstock Police with assault and uttering threats against a female victim on Oct. 17, 2021, in Woodstock. Not-guilty pleas were entered, but the accused later failed to appear for trial.
