Woodstock man handed over four years in prison for drugs and guns
Nathan Leon Godin, 30, of Woodstock, was sentenced to over four years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 15 on 20 charges laid by RCMP and the Woodstock Police Force.
Judge Melanie Poirier-Leblanc also prohibited Godin from the use of firearms and ordered him to register with the federal DNA database. He must also seek counselling for mental health and drug addiction while incarcerated. The accused had a limited prior criminal record involving driving offences.
Godin appeared for trial in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 3 and changed his plea to guilty. He was denied bail in July 2023 and remanded to jail. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court.
At his sentencing hearing, the court heard Godin was a “low-level drug trafficker” who committed his crimes at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) over a four-month period in 2023.
Addicted to methamphetamine, he got involved in drug trafficking to support his habit and was caught by police with drugs and guns in his vehicle during three incidents near the Eagle’s Nest.
Judge Poirier-Leblanc acknowledged Godin was in the “throes of an addiction crisis” when he engaged in a crime spree that escalated between March and June of last year.
He turned violent during one incident when he went to a residence at Wostak in an intoxicated condition, smashed out a window in a door with a bat, assaulted the homeowner, and demanded $1,950 to pay a fine. Godin then fled the scene in a vehicle at high speed.
Godin pleaded guilty to flight from police and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking on March 21, 2023, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); guilty to indictable possession of cocaine, resisting arrest, possession of a prohibited weapon (a sawed-off shotgun) with ready ammunition, improper storage of a firearm, and breach of a release order on June 21, 2023, at Wotstak; guilty to driving while prohibited, possession of a firearm without a licence (a rifle), and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm on March 1, 2023, at Wotstak; and guilty to driving while suspended on March 14, 2023, in the Town of Woodstock.
Godin also pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court on June 20, 2023; guilty to possession of a weapon (a baton) for the purpose of committing an offence, committing mischief causing property damage to a window, assaulting another man with a weapon (a baton), and breach of a release order on June 20, 2023, at Wotstak.
He also pleaded guilty to breach of a release order on March 31, 2023, in Woodstock, and guilty to possession of methamphetamine and breach of a release order on April 2, 2023, in Woodstock. The crown withdrew several other charges.
Defence Counsel Lindsay Paul said Godin was remorseful for his actions and stopped using drugs after going to jail. She said he was a skilled tradesman and should be considered an excellent prospect for rehabilitation.
Paul said Godin is doing well in jail and taking advantage of every opportunity to improve so he can return to his life and his family. The accused also had a positive pre-sentence report.
Crown Prosecutors Kathleen Jacobs and Jillian Jordan recommended Godin receive a five-year prison sentence, minus time served, due to the number and severity of his offences repeated in the same community and his dangerous involvement with guns and drug trafficking.
Arrested and held in custody
Brady Melvin Crain, 27, of Wicklow, appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 14 and was remanded to jail. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear for trial and also faced new charges in connection with a break-in in Johnville on Feb. 13.
Crain was charged by RCMP with multiple offences, including possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer concerning the incident in Johnville. He waived his bail until later and will return to court in custody for plea on March 12 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Crain with breaching his release order on April 4, 2023. He also appeared in provincial court on March 16, 2023, on charges of breach of an undertaking, committing mischief, and taking a vehicle without consent in connection with incidents on Aug. 29, 2022, and Oct. 28, 2022, at Perth-Andover.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the court set a trial date for Jan. 17.
Crain appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 6, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was arrested on a warrant on Aug. 28, 2023, for failing to appear for sentencing.
Crain was charged with assault on a female victim and breach of an emergency intervention order concerning incidents on April 29, 2021, and March 14, 2021, in Woodstock. RCMP also charged him with breach of a release order on Dec. 6, 2021, at Mount Pleasant. He pleaded guilty, and a sentencing date was set for July 27, 2023, but he failed to appear.
Arrested and released with conditions
Brady Crawford, 30, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 15 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on March 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Crawford was charged by the Woodstock Police Force with two counts of assault, uttering threats and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife) concerning an incident on Feb. 11 in Woodstock.
He was also charged with assault and assault by choking between June 1 and Sept. 1, 2023, in Woodstock; assault by choking between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1, 2023, in Woodstock; and assault by choking and unlawful confinement between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Charged with impaired driving
Dawson Jason Kinney, 22, of New Denmark, will appear in provincial court for plea on March 12 at 9:30 a.m. on an impaired driving charge.
RCMP charged Kinney with an incident on Dec. 6, 2023, at Sisson Ridge. He made his first court appearance on Feb. 13, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Returning for plea on three charges
Trevor Lee Bear, 26, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Feb. 5 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on March 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Bear was charged by RCMP with break and enter at a dwelling house, assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim, and taking possession of a minor without having lawful care or consent in connection with an incident on Feb. 1 at Neqotkuk. He was arrested and spent the weekend in jail.
First appearance on two charges
Chad Evans Cote, 45, of Anfield, Victoria County, will appear in provincial court on March 12 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by RCMP.
Cote was charged with assaulting another man and uttering threats following an incident on Nov. 12, 2023, at Perth-Andover. He made his first court appearance on Feb. 13, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged in North Lake incident
Bonnie Noel, 55, of Jacksontown, will appear in provincial court for plea on March 12 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by RCMP.
Noel was charged with assault and resisting arrest, stemming from an incident on Jan. 19 near North Lake. She made her first court appearance on Feb. 13, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Released with conditions
James Thomas Fowler, 52, of Wostak (Woodstock First Nation), was arrested on a warrant after turning himself in for failing to appear in court on Feb. 13.
RCMP charged Fowler with criminal harassment through repeated communication concerning an incident on Sept. 19, 2023, at Wostak. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on March 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Held for bail hearing
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 15 and was remanded to jail. He was charged with breaching a release order and will return to court in custody for a bail hearing on Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
He 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 returns to court for plea on Feb. 20 at 1:30 p.m. when a hearing will also be held about an alleged breach of a conditional sentence order.
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 prior to being released on the conditional sentence. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.
Trial rescheduled on 14 charges
Philip Sapper-Solomon, 30, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial court in custody for his trial on March 21-22 at 9:30 a.m. and March 26 at 1:30 p.m. on 14 charges laid by RCMP.
His trial was scheduled for Feb. 14 but was adjourned to the new date at the recommendation of both the crown and defence counsel. A monitoring date was also set for Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. to confirm the matter will be ready to proceed to trial.
Sappier-Solomon was arrested in connection with an incident on Sept. 17, 2023, near Beechwood. He was charged with possession of a restricted weapon (a handgun) while prohibited; possession of ammunition while prohibited; possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence; two counts of possession of a restricted weapon without a licence; being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm; possession of a loaded, restricted firearm (a handgun); assault and assault by choking involving a female victim; assault with a weapon (a cell phone); two counts of uttering threats; committing mischief causing property damage to a phone and tires, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle.
He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 13, 2023, for a bail hearing and was remanded to await his trial.
