Bull trial adjourned to March on kidnapping, firearm charges
Jeffrey Richard Bull, 45, of Newburg, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 22 to set a new date for his trial on charges of kidnapping, unlawful confinement, and multiple firearm offences.
The first day of Bull’s trial was rescheduled for March 20 at 9:30 a.m. He will return to court in custody by video on Feb. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to set another date for trial continuation. The adjournment was made at the request of his defence counsel.
Bull appeared in provincial court in custody by video in November and pleaded not guilty to 14 charges against him by RCMP. He was arrested and denied bail in connection with an incident involving a female victim on Oct. 15, 2023, in Pembroke.
Bull was charged with kidnapping, unlawful confinement, pointing a firearm at another person, assault while threatening to use a weapon, possession of a firearm (a shotgun) to commit an offence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of a firearm while prohibited, flight from police, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, careless use of a gun, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, and breach of probation. He was remanded and ordered to have no contact with the complainant or his co-accused.
Ryan Michael Fitzherbert, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 21 on two new charges laid by RCMP. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Feb. 23.
Fitzherbert was charged by RCMP with intimidation and breaching his release by violating an order for no contact with a female complainant following an incident on Feb. 20 in Woodstock.
He also appeared in provincial court on Feb. 6 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges related to the incident involving Bull. He returns to court on Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
Fitzherbert was charged with kidnapping while using a firearm, unlawful confinement, possession of a firearm without a licence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, breach of probation, and breach of a release order.
Fitzherbert appeared in custody by video for his bail hearing in October. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle, but was later brought back into custody.
Fitzherbert is also scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on June 17 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other separate charges.
He was charged by RCMP with improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of a prohibited weapon (a switchblade knife) in connection with an incident on Dec. 10, 2021, in Jacksonville. He will also stand trial at the Court of King’s Bench on April 15-17 on drug trafficking charges.
Beechwood man awaits sentencing
Levi Davenport, 35, of Beechwood, appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 22 on two charges laid by RCMP. He changed his plea to guilty, and a sentencing date was set for April 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Davenport was charged with break, enter and theft at a garage and breach of probation, stemming from an incident on March 17, 2023, in Beechwood. He pleaded guilty on both counts.
Change of plea on two charges
Michael James Watson, 30, of Bath, appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 22 on charges laid by RCMP. He changed his plea to guilty on two charges, and a sentencing date was set for April 2 at 1:30 p.m.
Watson was charged with flight from police, driving while suspended, and driving a motor vehicle without a licence plate displayed in relation to an incident on Oct. 23, 2022, at the Ultramar in Bath. He pleaded guilty to the flight charge and guilty to the licence plate offence and received a $168 fine. The crown withdrew the remaining charge. The sentencing relates to the flight charge.
Sentencing set on trafficking charges
Rhonda Perley, 55, and Jeffrey Phillips, 56, of Neqotkuk, are both awaiting sentencing on drug trafficking charges.
Perley pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine for an incident on Feb. 27, 2020, at Neqotkuk. She will be sentenced on March 12 and was released with conditions until her next court appearance.
Phillips pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking for another incident on Feb. 28, 2020, at Neqotkuk. He was scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 22, but the matter was adjourned for sentencing to April 3 at 1 p.m. due to Phillips being hospitalized.
Perley and Phillips were arrested on warrants in January and released with conditions following a bail hearing. They were both scheduled to be sentenced on the charges when they requested another hearing but failed to attend court on Aug. 29, 2021. Warrants were issued for their arrest.
The court heard they were charged by RCMP after undercover police officers purchased cocaine from them at their home in Neqotkuk. The crown said the officers dealt with Phillips to make the purchase, but Perley was inside the house and aware of what was happening. Perley also talked to the officers about the deal and possible future deals.
