Benton man back in court May 20
Sentencing was adjourned on Tuesday for a Benton man, who led police on a wild chase and days later jumped into the Eel River.
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on April 28 after changing his plea to guilty on a raft of charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. His sentencing date was adjourned until May 20 at 1:30 p.m. to allow time to submit two victim impact statements.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He has been in custody since his arrest last August and has a prior criminal record.
He pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his house arrest, dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle by ramming it during incidents in Benton and Teeds Mill on July 25, 2025.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, and uttering threats on July 25, 2025, in Woodstock. A breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
The court heard how Hayes fled Benton on a stolen ATV and led police on a wild chase through Woodstock. He drove over the lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse before heading to the RCMP detachment on Connell Street, where he drove over the lawn and spun the ATV around in the parking lot. He drove off again, uttering threats to construction workers behind the Sobeys store before making his escape. Days later, he was involved in three more incidents.
Hayes was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14, 2025, in Benton and theft of gas on Aug. 14, 2025, at the Debec Store. He pleaded guilty to stealing the gas and agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond for the assault and threats. The Crown withdrew the remaining charge.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to obstructing police following a bizarre incident on Aug. 15, 2025, near Meductic when he jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody. The court heard that a police helicopter and boat were called to the scene. Hayes refused to surrender to the police and would not take a life jacket. He swam back to shore after spending 45 minutes in the water and was arrested.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to another charge of assault, transferred from Edmundston. The court heard Hayes assaulted a correctional officer at the jail on Feb. 12, 2025, by pushing him and kicking him in the chest. The officer was knocked down a stairway, but another staff member caught him and broke his fall.
In custody awaiting trial
Gunner Gray, 24, of Upper Kintore, appeared in court in custody via video on April 28 and pleaded not guilty to a slew of charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were set for Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m. and Aug. 11 at 1:30 p.m. A pre-trial conference was also booked for July 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Gray was denied bail on April 16. He pleaded not guilty to breaching his release order, mischief, causing damage to an ankle bracelet, and resisting arrest, in connection with incidents on April 13 at Richmond Settlement and Bath.
He also pleaded not guilty to two other counts of breaching his release order (no driving), flight from police, dangerous driving and impaired driving in connection with an incident on March 17 in Glassville.
He also pleaded not guilty to breaching a no-contact order between Feb. 11 and Feb. 27 in Jacksonville and Bath, flight from police, and driving while suspended on Feb. 11 in Jacksonville.
Gray also pleaded not guilty to uttering threats, resisting arrest, fleeing police and four violations of the Motor Vehicle Act for incidents on Feb. 25, April 8 and July 22, 2025. His trial was booked for Jan. 18, 2027, on those charges.
Sentencing set for late May
Logan Alexander Lagacy, 27, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on April 27 and changed his plea to guilty on charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was set for May 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Lagacy pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, breach of probation and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 29, 2025, in Woodstock. He was remanded to jail following a bail hearing on Jan. 5.
Mental health assessment
Tanna Wright, 29, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on April 28 for plea on several charges. At the request of her lawyer, she was remanded for a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. She returns to court in custody for plea on May 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Wright was charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest, committing mischief, and two counts of breach of probation. She was arrested earlier this month and was remanded after her bail hearing.
Sentencing adjourned
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on April 27 after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges. His sentencing was adjourned until May 11 at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the submission of a victim impact statement.
Stewart was charged by Woodstock Police with breaching his release order stemming from incidents in Woodstock on Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, 2025. He was denied bail and remanded. On March 12, he pleaded guilty.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police and breaching his curfew on Dec. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order in Woodstock on Jan. 13, 2025. The charges were laid by Woodstock Police.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2024, in Woodstock. He was charged by the RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25, 2024, in Killoween and possession of a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He pleaded guilty on March 12.
Sentencing delayed
Jarrett Waugh, 32, of Beardsley Road, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on April 28 after changing his plea to guilty on one charge laid by the RCMP. His sentencing date was adjourned until May 13 at 1:30 p.m. to allow the Crown and the defence to prepare their final submissions.
Waugh was charged with criminal harassment through repeated electronic messages between May 17 and July 16, 2025, at McKenna. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Returning for plea
Jordan Hill, 21, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court on April 28 for plea on five charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until May 19 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Hill appeared in provincial court in custody via video on April 9 for a bail hearing and was released on conditions. He was charged with two counts of uttering threats, breach of a no-contact order, committing arson at a residence and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on April 1 at Greenfield.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 13 on other charges and was released with conditions.
Hill was charged by the RCMP with assaulting a woman between Feb. 5 and March 12; assaulting the same woman, breaching a no-contact order, and taking a vehicle without consent on March 12 in Greenfield.
Hill is also awaiting trial on other charges of assault, assault with a weapon (a ruler), breaking into a dwelling house, and committing mischief stemming from an incident on March 13, 2025, in Juniper.
In rehab awaiting trial
James Morgan Demerchant, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court via teleconference from rehab on April 28 to answer four charges laid against him by Woodstock Police.
Demerchant pleaded not guilty to possession of methamphetamine and resisting arrest on Oct. 12, 2025, in Woodstock, and two counts of uttering threats involving a female victim on Oct. 10, 2025, in Woodstock. His trial date was set for Jan. 27, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
At an earlier court appearance, Demerchant pleaded not guilty to nine other charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was booked for Jan. 27, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant pleaded not guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) while prohibited from having it, possession of a prohibited firearm without a licence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of two stolen passports, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, carrying a prohibited firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and carrying a concealed weapon following an incident on Oct. 12, 2025, in Woodstock.
He appeared in court via video for a bail hearing in November and was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Moncton with the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He will remain in rehab for the next eight to 10 months.
Plea adjourned
Kenneth Archie Greer, 59, of Bloomfield, will appear in provincial court on May 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a breathalyzer charge.
Greer was charged by Woodstock Police with refusing a breathalyzer demand in connection with an incident on Nov. 29, 2025, in Woodstock. He appeared in court on April 28 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged for impaired
Maria Vanheddeghem, 65, of Upper Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on April 28 and pleaded not guilty to an impaired driving charge. Her trial was scheduled for March 31, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Vanheddeghem was charged by Woodstock Police in connection with an incident on Aug. 24, 2025, in Woodstock.
Trial on sex charges
Benjamin Greer, 27, of Weston, appeared in provincial court on April 28 for a monitoring hearing about his trial on sex charges laid by the RCMP. His trial was adjourned until Aug. 19-20 and Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Defence counsel Alex Carleton requested the adjournment, noting a voluminous disclosure from the Crown included 4,000 pages that he would have to review before the trial.
Greer appeared in provincial court in custody via video on March 13, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
Greer pleaded not guilty to 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. As part of his release, Greer was ordered to have no contact with the complainants. He was placed under house arrest with permission to attend work.
Trial date booked
Tanya Lloyd, 49, of Beechwood, will appear for trial in provincial court on April 29, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Lloyd was charged with assault with a weapon (a walking stick), stemming from an incident on Jan. 5 at Beechwood. She appeared in provincial court on April 28 and entered her not-guilty plea.
Sentencing on two charges
Brian Keith Reynolds, 45, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), will appear for sentencing in provincial court on June 24 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was set for April 28, but was adjourned to allow completion of a pre-sentence report.
Reynolds was charged with two counts of resisting arrest on Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 27, 2023, at Wotstak; and two counts of breaching a release order for incidents on Dec. 10, 2024, and between Nov. 11 and Nov. 23, 20204, at Wotstak. He pleaded guilty to one count of resisting arrest and one breach charge.
Damage at food bank
Elizabeth Alice Davidson, 55, of Nackawic, will appear in provincial court on May 12 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Davidson was charged with breach of probation and mischief causing property damage on May 26, 2025, at the Valley Food Bank on Houlton Road. She appeared in court on April 28 when the matter was adjourned.
Trial date confirmed
Dustin Arthur Hawksley, 29, of Greenfield, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 1 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. A monitoring date was also set for May 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Hawksley was charged with assault involving a female victim and breach of a peace bond following an incident on Jan. 11 in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking to have no contact with the complainant.
