Sentenced to time served, released with ankle bracelet
Ashley Paul, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on Aug. 23 after pleading guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. She was handed 30 days in jail or time served and 12 months of probation.
Paul was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle, as a result of other separate charges. She will be residing at a residence in Carlingford.
She pleaded guilty to uttering a forged document ($2,000) and fraud for an incident on Oct. 10, 2023, at Perth Andover. The crown withdrew two other charges of possession of stolen cheques and breach of probation.
On Feb. 14, at Neqotkuk, she agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond in relation to other charges of unlawful entry into a dwelling house and breach of probation.
She pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman on March 2 at Perth-Andover while the crown withdrew another charge of breach of probation. She also pleaded guilty to obstructing police on April 11 at Neqotkuk and guilty to failing to appear in court on March 19. Paul has a limited prior criminal record.
Paul will return to court for trial next June in relation to an alleged kidnapping with violence at Neqotkuk in April. Six other residents of the community have also been charged.
Released to rehab facility
Douglas Thomas Defazio, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 22 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and ordered to enter a rehab facility in Moncton. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Defazio was arrested by Woodstock Police shortly after a stolen boat crashed on the rocks of the Meduxnekeag River on July 10, where the vessel was abandoned, and the suspect swam to shore.
He faces two counts of breaking and entering a dwelling house, mischief causing property damage, and breach of probation in connection with break-ins at two different residences on Grant Street and Houlton Street on July 10. More charges are pending, including possession of stolen property, theft, and breaching a recognizance.
Released to await sentencing
Lucas Green, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 22 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He also pleaded guilty to two charges laid by RCMP and returns to court for sentencing on Sept. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Green was charged with aggravated assault against another man and committing mischief causing property damage to a vehicle in connection with an incident on Oct. 19, 2023, at Richmond Corner.
He pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault causing bodily harm. The crown intends to withdraw the mischief charge at sentencing.
Green also pleaded guilty to uttering threats for another incident on June 15 at Mapledale. The crown withdrew another mischief charge.
Green appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 2 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was scheduled to return for plea but was taken back into custody for breaching his release order.
Agreed to peace bond
Jacob Kenneth Greer, 23, of Bloomfield, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 after pleading not guilty to a threat charge. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond and the trial did not proceed.
RCMP charged Greer with uttering threats involving a female victim concerning an incident on July 29 near Glassville. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
Remanded after bail hearing
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Aug. 21. He was remanded to jail and returns to court in custody for plea on Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Donnell 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 appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 12 for a bail hearing. After spending several months in custody, he was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was ordered to follow a curfew and reside at a Woodstock residence.
O’Donnell faces two charges: possession of stolen property (cheques) on Dec. 16, 2023, in Beechwood and mischief causing property damage on Feb. 15. The RCMP laid the charges. The court heard he was also facing other charges in Edmundston and Moncton.
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.
O’Donnell appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 23 for a bail hearing and waived his bail until later. 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.
He has a prior criminal record.
Denied bail after mental health assessment
Brady Paul Brooks, 33, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 23 for a bail hearing. He was denied bail and returns to court in custody for monitoring and plea on Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Brooks appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 20 for a fitness hearing following a 60-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital.
He disagreed with the results of a medical report finding him not criminally responsible, so his fitness hearing was adjourned.
Brooks was charged by Woodstock Police with impaired driving, refusing a breathalyzer, breach of a release order, resisting arrest, uttering threats, assaulting police, and possession of a stolen vehicle concerning an incident on June 15 in Woodstock.
Brooks also appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 23 for plea on other charges laid by Woodstock Police. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. and then was moved to December of this year.
Woodstock Police charged Brooks with uttering threats and breaking into a dwelling house in connection with incidents between Dec. 29, 2023, and Jan. 1 in Woodstock. After being arrested on other charges in Edmundston, he was remanded to Restigouche Hospital for a previous mental health assessment and later released. The court heard he also has charges in Moncton and Fredericton.
Bail hearing adjourned
Brandon Levesque, 26, of Gordonsville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 22 for a bail hearing after being arrested on three charges. His bail hearing was adjourned until Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m., when a new date will be set.
RCMP charged Levesque with breaking into a dwelling house and mischief causing property damage to a door on July 30 in Plaster Rock and assault with a weapon (a rock) involving a female victim on July 28 in Plaster Rock. No plea has yet been entered.
Trial rescheduled for Piercemont man
Caleb Crain, 40, of Piercemont, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 after pleading not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m. to allow him time to secure new legal counsel.
Crain was charged with assault causing bodily harm to a female victim, unlawful confinement, and uttering threats following an incident on Dec. 10, 2022, near Florenceville-Bristol. A monitoring date was set for Sept. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Neqotkuk man awaiting trial
Jordan Perley, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Aug. 22 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP. His trial was rescheduled for Sept. 24 at 9:30 a.m. and Oct. 11 at 9:30 a.m.
Perley appeared in court in custody by video on June 20 for a bail hearing and was denied bail. He was charged with two counts of breaking into a dwelling house, mischief causing property damage, uttering threats, three counts of assault, and resisting arrest concerning an incident on May 17 at Neqotkuk.
He appeared in court in custody on May 8 and was released with conditions after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court in April. He was re-arrested on the new charges and remanded.
Perley was also charged by RCMP with two other counts of attempted break and enter at a dwelling house, two counts of mischief causing property damage on Jan. 1 at Neqotkuk, attempted break and enter at a dwelling house, mischief, possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace on March 18 at Neqotkuk. He was also charged with failing to appear in court on April 9.
In custody awaiting plea
Erica Ann Trecartin, 28, of Lower Brighton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on Aug. 22 after being arrested on a warrant in St. Stephen. She waived her bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on Sept. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Trecartin with failing to appear in court on June 24 and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking concerning an incident in Grafton on Jan. 29.
Trecartin was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, driving while suspended, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, and driving while prohibited for an incident on Nov. 3, 2022. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set but failed to appear.
A co-accused, Ronald McLaughlin, 33, of St. Stephen, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on Aug. 12 after pleading guilty to five charges laid by RCMP.
McLaughlin appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 30. The RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance stemming from the same incident on Jan. 29 in Grafton. The court heard he was being held in custody on other charges in Saint John.
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. He received 36 months in prison on the drug charge as well as additional jail time for the driving offences and failing to appear.
Trial adjourned on sex charges
Matthew Eric Hughes, 28, of Perth-Andover, was scheduled to appear in provincial court on Aug. 22 for the continuation of his trial on two sex charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged Hughes with touching a minor for a sexual purpose; and invitation to touching for a sexual purpose, stemming from an incident on Oct. 20, 2015, near Perth-Andover.
Held for bail hearing
Trevor Gerald McDougall, 32, of Perth-Andover, was scheduled to appear in provincial court in custody on Aug. 23 for a bail hearing.
Woodstock Police charged McDougall with assault involving a female victim. He was arrested on Aug. 22 and remanded to await bail.
