Cloverdale man sentenced to seven years in prison
Wyatt DeLong, 29, of Cloverdale, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7.
Chief Judge Brian C. McLean also ordered DeLong to register with the federal DNA database and prohibited him from the use of firearms for 15 years. The accused must also undergo mental health counselling and treatment for drug addiction during his incarceration.
DeLong pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent at a police officer, flight from police, dangerous driving, and indictable breach of probation in connection with a police chase on July 14, 2023, near Florenceville-Bristol.
He had been in custody since his arrest last July and had a prior criminal record. The sawed-off shotgun used during the commission of the offence was forfeited to the crown.
Judge McLean told the court it was fortunate no one was injured during the dangerous incident that involved a “gunfight” with police.
“Violent attacks on police are an attack on society,” said Judge McLean, adding there was “high moral blame” on DeLong for putting the life of a police officer at risk.
DeLong said he had little memory of the incident because he was impaired by drugs. The court heard he began abusing drugs four years ago while working as a diesel mechanic. His addiction escalated from “trucker” (meth) pills to crystal meth, fentanyl and opioids. Before hearing his sentence, DeLong apologized to the court for his actions and requested drug counselling.
At an earlier hearing, the court heard DeLong was spotted by RCMP driving a stolen ATV on Route 130 near Burnham Road on July 14, 2023, around 2:30 a.m. Two other ATVs were travelling with him. When the police officer attempted to approach Delong, the other two ATVs tried to block the police cruiser. Eventually, they moved away and headed up the highway toward Perth-Andover.
As the police officer pursued DeLong on the stolen ATV, the accused fired a sawed-off shotgun toward the officer. The officer pulled his service weapon to return fire, and a police chase ensued for two kilometres through a residential area and down a trail before ending near Riverview Drive. There were four exchanges of gunfire between DeLong and the police officer during the incident. Police lost sight of DeLong as he fled on the stolen ATV into a wooded area.
DeLong claimed he did not aim the gun directly at the police officer but fired at random from the moving ATV. Defence Counsel Alex Pate said his client was trying to scare police away and end the chase. Under questioning from Judge McLean, DeLong admitted he pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent.
DeLong and a co-accused, Janis Buchanan, 28, of Perth-Andover, were arrested by RCMP after a manhunt in Victoria County following a series of incidents in the upper river valley.
Buchanan 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.
Summerfield man arrested
Michael Evan Shellard, 33, of Summerfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing on charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Shellard was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, careless use of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Nov. 5 at Summerfield. He was also charged with assault and assault by choking involving a female victim for another incident on Nov. 3 at Summerfield.
Released with time served
Nathan Aaron Sewell, 36, of Wilmot, appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 6 for monitoring about his trial on a breach charge laid by RCMP. He changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in jail or time served.
Sewell was charged with breaching his release order by violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) following an incident on Aug. 1 at Wilmot.
Sewell was denied bail on Aug. 8 and remanded to jail. He was released from custody on Nov. 6 with another ankle bracelet. He returns to court for his two-day trial on other charges on May 15-16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Sewell was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine, both for the purpose of trafficking, and three counts of possession of stolen property (an ID card, registration and mail) concerning an incident on Feb. 15 at Bairdsville.
Sentenced to 150 days
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Nov. 7 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail.
O’Donnell was charged with two counts of breach of a release order on June 26 and June 17. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court on June 25. The court heard he allegedly removed his ankle bracelet a few days after being released from jail. He waived his bail and was remanded on Aug. 21.
O’Donnell also faces two charges of possession of stolen property (cheques) in Beechwood on Dec. 16, 2023, and mischief causing property damage on Feb. 15. RCMP laid the charges. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Jan. 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
On April 11, he was in custody by video to answer a sex charge laid by RCMP. He pleaded not guilty. He was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident in Beechwood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021. On Sept. 3, a new trial date was set for Jan. 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
The court heard he was also facing other charges in Edmundston. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.
Newbridge man arrested and released
Bernard Turner, 38, of Newbridge, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Turner with fraud under $5,000. He also faces two other charges of flight from police and driving while suspended laid by RCMP in relation to a separate incident in February.
Warrant on file
Troy Keenan, 50, of Florenceville-Bristol, was scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 6 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge. He failed to appear, and a warrant is being held on file until his next court appearance on Nov. 22 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Keenan with assaulting another man while threatening to use a weapon (a knife) in connection with an incident on July 1, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol.
Released with conditions
Travis Terrance McDougall, 32, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. McDougall returns to court for plea on Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 4 and was remanded to await his bail hearing. Woodstock Police charged McDougall with two counts of uttering threats and obstructing police in connection with a stand-off on Nov. 2 when an individual barricaded himself inside a residence.
Arrested on a warrant
Justin Ryan Shea, 36, of Woodstock, was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in provincial court on Nov. 5 to answer two drug trafficking charges.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. Shea returns to court for plea on Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Shea is also facing separate charges related to a break-in at a residence in Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing in October and was released with conditions.
He was charged by Woodstock Police with break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26 and an additional charge of breaching an undertaking (curfew). He is slated to return to court for plea on those charges on Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Shea was also charged with mischief causing property damage and break, enter, and theft at the East Coast Truck Wash for an incident on March 17 in Lower Woodstock. He will also appear in provincial court on Nov. 12 at 9:30 a.m. for plea.
In custody awaiting trial
Corey Andrew Lane, 39, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 7 to answer multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
He pleaded not guilty on all counts, and his trial dates were set for Jan. 29 and Feb. 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The court heard a resolution may be sought with the crown on all charges before the trial.
Woodstock Police charged Lane with prowling at night near a house on Main Street in Woodstock and breach of probation on May 28.
RCMP also charged him with uttering threats, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and breach of a no-contact order following an incident on July 18 at Jackson Falls.
Lane was also charged with assault involving a female victim, uttering threats and breach of a no-contact order for another incident on July 15. He appeared in court in custody on July 23 and waived his bail until later.
In addition, Lane was charged with assault involving a female victim on Jan. 1 at Newbridge and breach of a no-contact order on Feb. 7 at Newbridge.
He was also charged with failing to appear in court on March 5 and May 1, breaching an undertaking by violating a no-contact order on Feb. 7 at Newbridge and breaching a release order on April 23 at Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Held and released from custody
Timothy Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, will appear in provincial court on Nov. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges. He appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4 and was released with conditions with an order to report to the police weekly.
RCMP charged Thiobodeau with uttering threats concerning an incident on Sept. 4, 2023, at Hartland and failing to appear in court on Oct. 24. He was in court on Nov. 5 for a plea when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
