Cloverdale man to be sentenced June 24
A federal prison term is expected for a Cloverdale man who pleaded guilty to shooting at a police officer.
Wyatt DeLong, 28, of Cloverdale, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody by video on May 3 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges.
DeLong pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent at a police officer, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation in connection with an incident on July 14, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol.
Judge Cameron Gunn set a date for his sentencing on June 24 at 1:30 p.m. DeLong remains in custody.
Under the Criminal Code of Canada, a conviction for discharging a firearm with intent (to endanger the life or safety of another person) carries a potential prison sentence of five years for a first offence.
A co-accused, Janis Buchanan, 28, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video in September 2023 and pleaded guilty to robbery with violence for an incident on May 29, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol. She was sentenced to two years in federal prison.
DeLong and Buchanan were arrested after a manhunt in Victoria County in connection with a series of incidents in the upper river valley.
Sentencing postponed for Thomas
Isaak Tedford Thomas, 28, of Centreville, appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody on May 3 after pleading guilty to multiple charges laid by RCMP.
Judge Cameron Gunn adjourned the hearing until May 10 at 9:30 a.m. on a legal technicality requiring the crown to resubmit recommendations for sentencing. The crown previously suggested Thomas serve over four years in federal prison.
Thomas pleaded guilty to careless use of a firearm, guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence, guilty to being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, guilty to resisting arrest, guilty to possession of a firearm while prohibited, and guilty to breach of probation.
The charges were laid following an incident that began in Speerville on July 17, 2023, and involved a gunshot fired at a local resident, a seven-hour police search, and a collision between a stolen side-by-side and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton. One police officer was injured during the arrest.
A co-accused, Connell McLean, was sentenced to 28 months in federal prison in March, minus time served. He admitted to being the driver of the stolen side-by-side. Thomas and McLean have been in jail since their arrest last July.
Bloomfield man remains in custody
A Bloomfield man remains in custody following an accident near Meductic on April 26 when a vehicle was forced off the four-lane highway by an oncoming car driving in the wrong lane.
Logan Sanders, 22, of Bloomfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2. He was charged with indictable dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. RCMP arrested him on April 27 while attempting to cross the Woodstock/Houlton border.
On May 2, Sanders waived his bail until later. He was remanded to jail to await his next court appearance on May 16 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard he needed more time to secure legal counsel.
Sanders also faces charges of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a male victim and two counts of uttering threats on Sept. 1 in Bloomfield; committing mischief by damaging doors and windows on Oct. 1-31 at Maple Ridge, and committing mischief by damaging a woodstove, walls, door and a table at a residence on Dec. 1-31 in Bloomfield.
A Plaster Rock woman and three youths were not injured when their vehicle left the highway and rolled over in the ditch after swerving to avoid the oncoming car travelling westbound at high speed.
Woodstock man wants to retract guilty pleas
Myles Andrew Dymond, 49, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on May 2 after pleading guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police. He informed the court he wanted to retract his guilty pleas and go to trial.
“I’m a businessman; do you want to make a criminal out of me?” Dymond asked the court.
Judge Sebastian Michaud reminded Dymond that the facts of the case had been read into the record after his guilty pleas had been entered, solidifying the crown evidence against him.
The judge said a hearing would be held on May 22 at 9:30 a.m. to decide whether or not his guilty pleas would be upheld or a trial date set. Dymond said he would be hiring new legal counsel to represent him at the hearing.
Dymond was charged with breach of a no-contact order and breach of an emergency intervention order for an incident on Sept. 17-18, 2023, in Woodstock. On Dec. 5, 2023, he also faced a new charge of transmitting intimate images without consent. He pleaded guilty to these charges on Jan. 24.
Dymond first appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 28, 2023, and was released with conditions. He was charged with breach of an undertaking by failing to abide by a no-contact order following an incident on Aug. 26, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 24.
On Sept. 19, 2023, he faced charges of assault on a female victim on March 26, 2023, at Bedell and uttering threats on June 18, 2023, in Woodstock. These charges were to be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing. However, the court heard the crown intended to proceed with these charges should the matter go to trial.
Arrested and released with conditions
Dana Spencer, 41, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on April 29 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on May 28 at 9:30 a.m.
Spencer was charged by RCMP with refusing a breathalyzer demand on Aug. 19, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol, assaulting a woman and uttering threats on April 15 in Maplehurst, and breaching an undertaking by violating a no-contact order on April 24 at Maplehurst.
Remanded for bail hearing
Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 3 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until May 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged Sullivan with breaching a peace bond and uttering threats concerning an incident on April 27 at Gladwyn. The court heard more charges may also be pending.
Trial adjourned on drug charge
Bronwyn Barbara Thomas, 23, of Bloomfield, appeared in provincial court on May 2 for trial on a drug charge. The matter was adjourned until May 14 at 1:30 p.m. to set a new trial date at the request of her defence counsel.
RCMP charged Thomas with attempting to possess methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2, 2022, near Centreville. She pleaded not guilty.
Trial continues on three sex charges
Ryan Coles, 33, of Drumheller, Alberta, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 12 after pleading not guilty to three sex charges laid by RCMP. After one day of testimony, the trial was adjourned for continuation on Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Coles was charged with touching for a sexual purpose, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault in connection with an incident on Sept. 2, 2022, in Perth-Andover.
Trial adjourned to June
Tina Noella Albert, 53, of Craig’s Flats, Victoria County, appeared for trial in provincial court on May 1 on three charges laid by RCMP. After opening testimony, the trial was adjourned until June 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Albert was charged with resisting arrest, uttering threats, and assaulting a police officer concerning an incident on Oct. 4, 2022, near Perth-Andover.
At an earlier court appearance, Albert told the judge she had filed an official complaint against the police officer involved in the incident, which resulted in the officer’s transfer out of Perth-Andover.
Charges withdrawn
The crown withdrew charges against Randall Wade Perley, 54, of Neqotkuk, when he appeared for trial in provincial court on May 1.
Perley was charged with assaulting another man and committing mischief, causing property damage to a truck, following an incident on July 18, 2022, at Neqotkuk.
Zealand man in custody awaiting plea
Sheldon Marr Brewer, 26, of Zealand, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until May 28 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel. The court heard the accused was being held in custody on other charges in Fredericton.
Marr-Brewer appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing in Woodstock on March 15. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, but was brought back into custody. The crown said it intended to revoke his release order when he appeared in court in Fredericton.
RCMP charged Brewer with breaking into a dwelling house, resisting arrest, flight from police, and dangerous driving concerning an incident on March 12 near Cloverdale.
He was arrested on a warrant following a police chase that began in the Cloverdale area. The vehicle crashed into a ditch, and the driver fled on foot. Shortly after, police received a report of a man smashing his way into a nearby home by kicking down a door to hide from police. The homeowner fled uninjured.
The suspect eventually left the house and ran into the woods. Drones and police dogs were called to assist in the search. The man was later spotted in Millville and was finally captured in Coldstream.
Bail hearing adjourned
Gary Frederick Kilcollins, 48, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 for a bail hearing. The matter was adjourned until May 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Kilcollins was charged by Woodstock Police with break and enter at a dwelling house, theft of a TV, and breach of probation for an incident between April 8 and April 16 in Woodstock.
He was also charged with theft from the Woodstock Superstore on March 24 and theft from the Thrift Boutique on April 13. A mischief charge was also laid for an incident on Jan. 2 when a window was broken at another property in town.
The court heard new charges may be pending related to a break-in at Home Hardware in Woodstock.
Awaiting plea on theft charges
Ian Stewart Bishop, 41, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until May 28 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
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 breaking and entering at a dwelling house and theft of tools on March 30 and breaking and entering and theft of tools at the River Valley Civic Centre on April 1. Bishop has a prior criminal record.
In custody on multiple charges
Kyle Lucas Stairs, 25, of Temperance Vale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 to answer multiple charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until May 21 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Stairs appeared in court in custody by video on April 11 and was remanded. A date for his bail hearing will be set at his court appearance on May 21.
Stairs was charged 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.
In custody awaiting trial
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 to answer a charge of possession of stolen property. The matter was adjourned for plea until May 14 at 9:30 a.m.
On April 11, he was in custody by video to answer a sexual assault charge laid by RCMP. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for June 26 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Donnell was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in Beechwood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021.
O’Donnell appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 23 for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. On Feb. 15, the RCMP charged him with breaching a release order and held him in custody.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 24 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, but was brought back into custody.
O’Donnell was charged by RCMP with assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, and breach of probation concerning an incident on Jan. 25 near Johnville.
A date for a hearing about an alleged breach of a conditional sentence order was scheduled for April 5.
O’Donnell received a nine-month conditional sentence on Aug. 1, 2023, after pleading guilty to indictable assault, theft, breach of a release order, two counts of breach of probation, uttering threats and assault on a female victim. He spent five months in remand before being released on the conditional sentence. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.
Charged with drug trafficking
Ronald McLaughlin, 33, of St. Stephen, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until May 28 at 9:30 a.m.
McLaughlin appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 30. RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance, stemming from an incident on Jan. 29 in Grafton. The court heard he is being held in custody on other charges in Saint John.
On April 12, McLaughlin was also charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the same incident in Grafton. On May 2, an additional charge was laid for failing to appear in court on March 5.
Two remain in custody after police chase
Marshall Turner, 23, of Beaconsfield, and Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, were arrested and charged by RCMP following a police chase across Carleton North. They remain in custody.,
Turner appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 2 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until May 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel. He was charged with possession of a stolen truck, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation.
Brooker was charged with breach of a conditional sentence order and was held in custody for a bail hearing on April 26. She was remanded to jail and appeared in court in custody by video on April 30 for a hearing when she denied breaching her conditional sentence order. After the hearing, she was ordered to complete her sentence behind bars.
They were arrested on April 23 after police pursued the pair through Beaconsfield, Florenceville-Bristol and Johnville, where they were apprehended with the assistance of a police dog and police helicopter. Turner and Brooker both have a prior criminal record.
Guilty pleas on two charges
Brandon Cecil Armour, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on May 1 and pleaded guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. A monitoring date was set for May 14 at 1:30 p.m. to resolve any other outstanding charges.
Woodstock Police charged Armour with prowling at night and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on March 24, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty on May 1.
He was also charged with breach of an undertaking and failing to attend court on July 11, 2023, theft of a vehicle and resisting arrest on Aug. 14, 2023. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP also charged Armour with breaching a release order following incidents on Jan. 7 and Feb. 6 near Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 9 for a bail hearing and waived his bail until later. On March 13, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching his release order, and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Armour appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 11 and was sentenced to one year in jail, minus time served, after pleading guilty to another charge. He was also placed on probation for 12 months.
Armour was charged by RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and assaulting a female victim, stemming from an incident on June 8, 2022, in Beechwood. He pleaded guilty to breaking into the dwelling, and the crown withdrew the two remaining charges.
Armour appeared in court in custody on Aug. 15, 2023, after being arrested on a warrant. He appeared on Sept. 28, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions but was brought back into custody.
