Sentencing set on drug trafficking charge
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 24, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court on April 1 for a hearing about his trial in March on a drug trafficking charge.
After the crown and defence agreed to a statement of facts, Judge Karen Lee found him guilty. A sentencing date was set for July 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Abualhawa was charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident on Feb. 21, 2023, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). The charge was laid in connection with a search of a vehicle. Police seized a quantity of cocaine in nine bags, a debit card and $900 in cash.
Suspended sentence, probation
Cassidy Guest, 33, of Grand Falls, appeared in provincial court on April 1 for sentencing on an assault charge. He received a suspended sentence and 18 months of probation.
Judge Karen Lee also ordered Guest to seek counselling as required for mental health and addiction and said he must have no contact with the victim. Guest had no prior criminal record.
RCMP charged him with an incident at the Perth-Andover Motor Inn on July 21, 2022. The court heard Guest launched a surprise attack on another man in the parking lot and punched and kicked him. He was first charged with assault causing bodily harm but pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of common assault. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court for sentencing on Feb. 20, 2024.
Defence Counsel Lindsay Paul told the court Guest was remorseful about the assault, explaining he lashed out at the victim because the man took payment for an $8,500 home renovation that was never finished. Video surveillance showed Guest carrying out the assault. There was no evidence of any physical injury to his victim.
At another court appearance, Guest was also charged by Woodstock Police with assault by choking, unlawful confinement, assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, breach of an undertaking, robbery of a cell phone, mischief causing property damage, and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), concerning an incident between Feb. 15 and Feb.16 in Woodstock.
A co-accused, Lori Guest of Grand Falls, was charged with being an accessory after the fact in the alleged crime. They both return to court for plea on April 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Newbridge woman sentenced
Tracy Taylor, 42, of Newbridge, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 31 for a bail hearing after being arrested on the weekend.
She pleaded guilty to breaching her release order and received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation. She was released from custody.
Taylor was also charged with breaching her release order (curfew) at Grafton on Sept. 15, 2024, and breach of a no-contact order on Oct. 21, 2024, in Newbridge. The crown withdrew those charges.
She was also scheduled to stand trial in provincial court on June 11 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to four other charges laid by RCMP.
Taylor was charged with careless use of a firearm, pointing a gun at another person, possession of a firearm without a licence (a shotgun and rifle) and uttering threats against a male victim in connection with an incident between March 3 and March 31, 2024, in Newbridge.
On Monday, she changed her plea to guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence and was handed a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation. The crown withdrew the remaining charges.
Held for bail hearing
Kyle Laurie Williams, 36, of Clearview, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on March 31 after being arrested on the weekend for breaching his release order. His bail hearing was adjourned until April 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Williams also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 26 and pleaded not guilty to another breach charge laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for July 10 at 9:30 a.m.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 6 for a bail hearing and was with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
RCMP charged Williams with breaching a no-contact order and failing to appear in court. Judge Henrik Tonning imposed a prohibition on firearms as part of his release and ordered him to stay under house arrest at the family farm.
Williams is also awaiting trial on another charge of transmitting intimate images without consent concerning an incident on June 4, 2023, at Centreville. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was rescheduled for July 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Arrested and held in custody
Austin Aubin, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on March 28 to answer four charges laid by RCMP. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on April 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Aubin was charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, breach of probation, careless use of a firearm and possession of a firearm without a licence for an incident at Neqotkuk.
Released with conditions
Kyrin Moulton, 19, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on April 1. He was released with conditions and ordered to enter a rehab facility in Sussex. He returns to court for plea on May 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Moulton was charged by RCMP with aggravated assault involving another man, breaching a release order, and breach of probation for an incident on Nov. 23, 2024, at Perth-Andover. He has a prior criminal record.
Neqotkuk man remanded
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on April 1 after being arrested on a warrant. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on April 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Schloemer received 12 months of house arrest when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Feb. 4. He was ordered to follow a curfew for the first six months and complete 50 hours of community service work. He was also ordered to seek counselling and treatment for drug and alcohol addiction and anger management.
During his court appearance on April 1, he was charged with breaching his house arrest. He denied the allegation, and a hearing was set for April 25 at 1:30 p.m.
Schloemer appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions. He pleaded guilty to breaching a release order (house arrest) concerning an incident on Sept. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
Schloemer also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Neqotkuk and assaulting police on June 21, 2024, at Williamstown. The crown withdrew another charge of failing to appear in court.
Arthurette man to stand trial
Johnny Lee Bloodsworth, 39, of Arthurette, appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to 12 sex charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for May 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Bloodsworth was charged with four counts of sexual assault and eight counts of touching a minor for a sexual purpose in connection with incidents between July 10, 2023, and Sept. 4, 2023, at Arthurette.
He is also scheduled for trial on other separate charges laid by the RCMP. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for May 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Bloodsworth was charged with sexual assault, two counts of touching a minor for a sexual purpose, and uttering threats in connection with an incident between April 1, 2023 and Sept. 1, 2023, at Arthurette.
He also faces several firearm charges for a separate incident on June 14, 2024, at Arthurette, including possession of multiple shotguns and rifles without a licence, possession of a prohibited firearm with ready ammunition, and possession of several restricted firearms without a licence.
Bloodsworth appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 25, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was ordered to follow a curfew and reside at a residence in Grand Falls.
Awaits sentencing in June
Nicholas William Sutthery, 40, of Arthurette, appeared in provincial court on April 1 to confirm his court date for sentencing on June 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Sutthery appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on March 17 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. He was released from custody to await his sentencing. He told the court on April 1 that he spent seven months in remand after being denied bail. A sentence of time served is expected.
He was charged by RCMP with three counts of uttering threats at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) on Sept. 25, assault with a weapon (ramming a vehicle), dangerous driving, break and enter at a dwelling house, and possession of a stolen ATV on May 27 in Perth Andover, and breach of an undertaking on July 16.
Sutthery was also charged with possessing a stolen truck concerning an incident between Jan. 1 and 11 at Carlingford. He has a dated prior criminal record.
Not-guilty plea
Ryan Fitzherbert, 30, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to a stolen property charge laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Feb. 26, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Fitzherbert was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle at Pembroke on Oct. 23, 2024. Woodstock Police also charged him with trespassing at the Canadian Tire Store in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty on both counts and was released on an undertaking until his trial.
Charged with shoplifting
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court on April 1 to answer a shoplifting charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until April 29 at 9:30 a.m.
Brooker was charged with theft from Walmart on Connell Street in connection with an incident in Woodstock in July 2023.
Plea adjourned
Grant Rediker of Oakland appeared in provincial court on April 1 to answer multiple charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until April 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Rediker appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 13 and was released with conditions. He was charged by RCMP with assault with a weapon (a vehicle), possession of ammunition while prohibited, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, careless use of a firearm, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, break and enter at a garage, and illegal possession of methamphetamine. The charges were laid in connection with an incident involving a female victim on March 12 at Oakland.
Awaiting plea on sex charges
Benjamin Greer, 27, of Weston, appeared in provincial court on April 1 to answer several sex charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until April 29 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Greer appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He was charged with sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose, making sexually explicit material available to a minor, invitation to sexual touching, accessing child pornography, and using a computer system to facilitate an offence in connection with incidents between Aug. 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, at Teeds Mill. He also faces an additional charge of uttering threats to a female victim.
Greer was ordered to have no contact with the complainants as part of his release. He was placed under house arrest with permission to attend work.
Charged with theft
William (Billy) Harding, 35, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court on April 1 to answer theft charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until April 22 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Harding appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on March 13 and was released with conditions. He appeared in provincial court in custody on March 6 after being arrested on a warrant. He was in custody by video on Feb. 10 and was released with conditions but failed to return to court for plea on March 4.
Harding was charged by Woodstock Police with theft from the Superstore and breach of probation following an incident on Sept. 10, 2024, in Woodstock. A warrant was issued for a co-accused, Tammy Schloemer, 60, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), in relation to the same incident.
Harding was also charged with theft of a laptop in Perth-Andover on March 12, 2024, breach of probation on March 20, 2024, and breach of probation by failing to report between Dec. 12, 2023, and Sept. 3, 2024. He has a prior criminal record.
Warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Earl James Demerchant, 35, of Woodstock, after he failed to appear in court for plea on April 1.
Demerchant appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on March 10 and was released with conditions. Woodstock Police charged him with breaching his release order for an incident on March 8.
Woodstock Police also charged Demerchant with assaulting police, resisting arrest and breach of probation following an incident on Jan. 12 in Woodstock. RCMP also charged him with breach of probation for an incident on Nov. 3, 2024, in Waterville.
Carlingford man to stand trial
Patrick Campbell, 29, of Carlingford, appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Campbell was charged with breaching a no-contact order and obstructing the course of justice following an incident on March 3 at Carlingford. He was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
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.
His trial dates were set for March 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and March 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring date was also scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
Failed to appear
The court issued an arrest warrant for Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fredericton, formerly of Fielding, after he failed to appear in court on April 1 for monitoring about his trial.
O’Keefe was charged by RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Dec. 18-19 at 9:30 a.m.
Charged with being ‘peeping tom’
Derrick Roy Goodine, 67, of Oxbow, Victoria County, will appear for trial in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges related to being a peeping tom. A hearing was held on March 31, and the matter was scheduled for trial.
Goodine appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 6 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged by RCMP with prowling at night, secretly observing a female person without their consent, and breach of probation for an incident on Jan. 2 at Florenceville-Bristol. The charges were amended to delete allegations about a visual recording.
Carlingford woman to be sentenced
The court issued an arrest warrant for Kortney Boyer, 32, of Carlingford, after failing to appear for sentencing on April 1.
Boyer appeared in provincial court on March 25 for sentencing after pleading guilty to an assault charge, but the matter was adjourned. RCMP charged her with assaulting a female victim stemming from an incident on March 18, 2024, at Bairdsville.
Facing assault charges
Christian Karnes-McQuade, 23, of Richmond Corner, will appear in provincial court on May 1 at 9:30 a.m. to answer five charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was scheduled for plea on April 1 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Karnes-McQuade was charged with assaulting a female victim, assault while threatening to use a weapon (a pocket knife), assault by choking, uttering threats, and unlawful confinement in connection with an incident between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2 in Woodstock.
Plea adjourned
Tristan Alexander Calhoun, 38, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on April 15 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge. The matter was scheduled for plea on April 1 but was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel. The court heard a resolution is being sought with the crown.
Calhoun was charged by Woodstock Police with assaulting a woman, stemming from an incident between March 31 and Oct. 30, 2024, in Woodstock.
Gordonsville man gets trial date
Clayton Giberson, 64, of Gordonsville, appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Nov. 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Giberson was charged with assault and mischief causing property damage to a truck for an incident on Nov. 24, 2024, in Gordonsville.
Charged with impaired driving
Andrew Muir Cossio, 22, of Victoria Corner, will appear in provincial court on April 15 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an impaired driving charge. He was scheduled for plea on April 1 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Woodstock Police charged Cossio with impaired driving following an incident on Nov. 17, 2024, in Woodstock.
Trial scheduled following accident
Rylan McLeod, 21, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on April 1 to set a date for his trial after pleading not guilty to seven charges laid by RCMP. Trial dates were set for March 4-5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
McLeod was charged with three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and obstructing police in relation to an accident on Jan. 5 at Bulls Creek. A monitoring date for his trial was also set for Sept. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Still without legal counsel
Alesha Rossi, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on April 1 for monitoring about her trial. She told the court she was still without legal counsel. A hearing was set for Oct. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Rossi appeared in provincial court on March 11 and pleaded not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. Her trial was scheduled for March 11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
She was charged with assault involving a male victim, assault with a weapon (a chair), and uttering threats concerning an incident on Oct. 12, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
Trial in December
Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 36, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court on April 1 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Dec. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Stockford appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Feb. 18 and was released with conditions. He was charged with breaching his release order following an incident on Feb. 18 at Bedell.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 21 after being arrested on a warrant. RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving while suspended, and breach of probation concerning an incident on Aug. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. He has a lengthy prior criminal record.
Moved to alternative measures
McKenzie Doreen Sawyer, 26, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on April 1 for monitoring about her trial in May on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was moved to the alternative measures program, so the trial will not proceed.
Sawyer was charged with assault involving a male victim between June 1, 2023, and July 31, 2023, and uttering threats against the same person between Aug. 1, 2023, and April 16, 2024, in Woodstock. She has until July 8 at 9:30 a.m. to complete the requirements of the program in order to have the charges withdrawn.
Trial adjourned
Beverley Dawn Kenneson, 53, of Greenfield, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 31 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until April 15 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard a change of plea is expected.
Kenneson was charged with shoplifting and defrauding Smith Drugs Ltd., stemming from an incident between July 11 and July 23, 2022, in Florenceville-Bristol. She pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on May 16, 2023.
