- Prison sentence for Perth-Andover woman totals over 11 years
A Perth-Andover woman has been sentenced to 11 and a half years in federal prison for her role in a drug trafficking operation in Victoria County.
Janet Elizabeth Holmes, 32, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 for her second trial on drug trafficking charges. She changed her plea to guilty to possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the execution of a search warrant at her home in Perth-Andover on Jan. 27, 2022.
Judge Claude Haché handed her three and a half years in prison for the offence. The crown withdrew several other drug and firearm charges.
Holmes is already serving an eight-year federal prison sentence due to her conviction for drug trafficking last year. The RCMP charged her following another police raid at her home on April 29, 2022, and she was found guilty after trial.
On Thursday, Holmes showed no emotion upon hearing she was facing a total sentence of over 11 years in jail.
Judge Haché also ordered Holmes to register with the federal DNA database, and she was prohibited from using firearms for life. All narcotics, cash, drug paraphernalia, firearms and ammunition seized by police during the investigation were forfeited to the crown.
Federal Crown Prosecutor Jillian Jordon told the court police found a large quantity of hard drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, hydromorphone and fentanyl, inside her residence and in a trailer on her property. A backpack containing money, drugs and drug paraphernalia also carried her personal identification.
Defence Counsel Alex Carleton said Holmes was an addict for most of her adult life and eventually became an intravenous drug user.
“She was an addict trafficker,” Carleton explained.
Since her incarceration, Holmes has been involved in drug rehabilitation programs and hopes to recover from her addiction during her lengthy prison term.
A co-accused, Justin Joseph Curran, 32, of Grand Falls, was sentenced in July to seven years and 11 months in prison, minus time served. He pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges laid by RCMP.
During his arrest, Curran was found in possession of large quantities of multiple illegal drugs. He lived with Holmes at her residence in Perth-Andover. He also committed several thefts in communities across Victoria County. Curran had a prior criminal record.
- Michaud pleads guilty to remaining charges
Walter Patrick (Ricky) Michaud, 43, of Debec, appeared in provincial court in custody for trial on Aug. 30 and changed his plea to guilty on all remaining charges laid against him by RCMP. A sentencing date was set for Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Michaud was denied bail and remanded to jail in October on nine charges stemming from the day of his arrest on Sept. 27, 2022, at Bull’s Creek, including possession of a firearm without a licence (a Ruger 10/22 rifle), being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a loaded gun, improper transport of a firearm, possession of a firearm dangerous to the public peace, flight from police, dangerous driving, assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a vehicle), possession of stolen property (a Dodge Ram truck), and resisting arrest.
Police also charged him with assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from police, and dangerous driving on Sept. 18, 2022, in Meductic.
Michaud also appeared in provincial court in custody on July 21 for a verdict following two other trials. He was found guilty on all counts and returns to court for sentencing on more charges on Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
The RCMP charged Michaud with flight from police, dangerous driving, and possession of stolen property (a Ford 150 half-ton) for an incident on Sept. 16, 2022, in Woodstock. The charges related to a police chase in Woodstock.
More charges included assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a bush saw) and resisting arrest on Sept. 6, 2022, in Debec. Michaud was found guilty on both counts.
Michaud also appeared in provincial court in custody on June 12 for his trial about a stolen vehicle and his alleged involvement in drug trafficking. After a full day of testimony from police officers and a police drug expert, Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean reserved his decision until Sept. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Michaud was charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident around midnight on March 11, 2022, in Teeds Mills. He was also charged with possession of stolen property (a 2013 Hyundai Elantra) as a result of the same incident. He pleaded not guilty, and the matter went to trial.
Michaud also faced charges of assaulting a woman in Debec on Aug. 27, 2022. He was found not guilty of the assault on June 29 after the alleged victim failed to appear to testify at the trial.
- Released with conditions
Andrew Joseph St. Peter, 31, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Aug. 30 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
St. Peter was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in court for plea. He appeared in provincial court in custody on July 26 to answer a weapons charge related to an incident in the village on July 22.
The RCMP charged St. Peter with possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a firearm). He was arrested after police received reports of a suspect carrying a weapon in the village.
St. Peter was also slated for plea on charges under the SPCA Act. He was charged by SPCA officers with willful neglect of an animal and failing to provide medical attention to a dog concerning incidents on Jan. 1-2 in Plaster Rock. In June, the court heard St. Peter had been admitted to the Restigouche hospital and could not attend court.
- Arrest warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Sara Elizabeth (Skaarup) Campbell, 40, of Perth-Andover, after she failed to appear in provincial court to answer a charge on Aug. 29. RCMP charged Campbell with impaired driving concerning an incident on May 26 near Aroostook.
Thomas awaiting trial, McLean to enter plea
Connell Ross McLean, 27, and Issak Tedford Thomas, 27, of Centreville, remain in custody on charges related to a series of incidents, including a police chase and shots fired.
Thomas appeared in court in custody by video and waived his bail until later. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and returned to court on Aug. 30, where the court set his trial date for Jan. 18-19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. It also set a monitoring date for Dec. 19.
McLean also appeared in court in custody by video on Aug. 23 for his bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of his defence counsel. McLean did not enter any plea at his court appearance.
The RCMP charged each man with discharge of a firearm (a rifle) with intent, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, obstructing police, and possession of stolen property (a side-by-side).
The RCMP also charged Thomas with possession of a firearm while prohibited and breach of probation. McLean faces additional charges of flight from police, driving while suspended, and assaulting a police officer.
Police arrested the two men following a collision between an off-road vehicle and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton, south of Harland, on July 17. The arrests were related to a Monday morning incident in Speerville, south of Woodstock, which included shots fired at a Speerville resident.
The suspects fled Speerville, leading to an hours-long police search and investigation in several communities, including Lakeville, between Centreville and Woodstock, and Lower Brighton.
- In custody awaiting plea
Brandon Jeffrey Cote, 28, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 30 and waived his bail. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
The Woodstock Police Force charged Cote with assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon, and breach of probation for a recent incident in Woodstock.
The RCMP also charged Cote with uttering threats on Aug. 18 in Woodstock and breach of an undertaking by failing to report to police between Oct. 3, 2022, and Aug. 28, 2023, in Woodstock.
- Held for bail hearing
Brandon Schriver, 21, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 via teleconference and was remanded to jail. He returns to court in custody for a bail hearing on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m.
The RCMP charged Schriver with breach of probation following an incident on Aug. 30 at Craig’s Flat. Crown Prosecutor Geoff Hutchin told the court more charges are pending against the accused.
The court heard Schriver was a parolee from federal prison. He was sentenced to two years in prison in January 2022 for a series of thefts across Victoria County.
- Neqotkuk man facing four charges
Collin Francis Bear, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), was in custody awaiting a bail hearing on Aug. 31 on four charges laid by RCMP.
Police charged Bear with assault, two counts of assault with a weapon (an axe and a mirror) involving a female victim, and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence (an axe) in connection with an incident on Aug. 26 at Neqotkuk.
- Arrested and released with conditions
Myles Andrew Dymond, 49, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 28 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on Sept. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
The Woodstock Police Force charged Dymond with breach of an undertaking by failing to abide by a no-contact order following an incident on Aug. 26 in Woodstock. The no-contact order involves a female complainant.
- Charged with leaving an accident scene
Deidra Fowler, 50, of Woodstock First Nation, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
Police charged Fowler with failing to stop at the scene of an accident concerning an incident on May 27 at Woodstock First Nation. She made her first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
- Released on an undertaking
Christopher James Kitchen, 44, of Beardsley Road, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. to answer a charge of criminal harassment.
The Woodstock Police Force charged Kitchen following an incident on March 13 in Woodstock. The charge involves allegations of repeated communication with a female complainant. Kitchen made his first court appearance on Aug. 29 and was released on an undertaking.
- Awaiting plea for impaired driving
Adam Gordon Harris, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Police charged Harris with refusing a breathalyzer and impaired driving in connection with an incident on May 24 near Florenceville-Bristol. He made his first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
- Charged with stealing gas
Emily Anne Crandlemire, 30, of Windsor, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Police charged Crandlemire with driving while suspended and theft of gas from the Irving Station in Florenceville-Bristol on May 12. She made her first court appearance on Aug. 29 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
- Warrant being held on file
An arrest warrant is being held on file for Kayla Dawn Tibbits, 32, of Woodstock, after she failed to appear in provincial court on Aug. 29 to answer a charge laid by Woodstock Police. Tibbits was charged with shoplifting at the Atlantic Superstore in Woodstock on Jan. 10.
- Bail hearing scheduled
Jesse Adam Shaw, 32, of Woodstock, was scheduled to appear in provincial court in custody on Aug. 31 for a bail hearing. He was remanded to jail on June 26 and waived his bail until later.
Woodstock Police charged Shaw with breach of a release order by violating an order to have no contact with a female victim.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on June 19 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was scheduled to return to court for plea on July 11 but was brought back into custody.
At his previous court appearance, he was charged by Woodstock Police with several offences, including assault, uttering threats, and committing mischief concerning a series of incidents between April 20 and May 8, between May 1 and May 8, and between June 11 and June 14 in Woodstock.
