Three years in prison for crime spree
Samuel Robert Crewe, 31, of Jacksonville, was sentenced to three years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 26. He pleaded guilty to a raft of charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
Crewe has just over two years left to serve once his remand time is applied. The court heard he struggles with drug addiction and goes on crime sprees. He was ordered to seek counselling and treatment for addiction during his incarceration.
He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking on March 19, 2025, in Woodstock. The charges were laid after police found him with a bag of drugs and $300 in cash inside a vehicle parked at Walmart.
Crewe was denied bail on more charges. He pleaded guilty to being at large on a release order by violating his house arrest, stemming from an incident on June 24, 2025, in Woodstock, when he was spotted by police at Lucky Larry’s on Main Street.
Crewe also pleaded guilty to flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of a release order on May 6, 2025, in Woodstock, when he made another stop at Lucky Larry’s and led police on a chase through town.
Crewe also pleaded guilty on March 6, 2025, to breaching his release order after being caught on video surveillance attempting to leave the Superstore in Woodstock with a cart of groceries. He left the cart at the door and fled in a vehicle.
He also pleaded guilty to flight from police, dangerous driving, and driving while prohibited in connection with a single-vehicle accident in Kirkland on Jan. 4, 2025. He had a prior criminal record. Another charge of possession of methamphetamine was withdrawn by the Crown.
Crewe and a co-accused, Timothy Wheelan, are facing charges of possession of methamphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine and fentanyl, all for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents between June 1 and June 13, 2025, in Jacksonville. Crewe pleaded not guilty, and his trial date will be set on Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Crewe also has 13 gun charges related to the same incident in June 2025. He pleaded not guilty, and trial dates were set for Sept. 16, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. and Nov. 13, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Wheelan is in custody awaiting plea on 48 gun charges as well as numerous other alleged offences.
Sentencing set for Smith
Kaylee Melinda Smith, 25, of Clearview, will appear in provincial court for sentencing on May 5 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to two charges.
Smith pleaded guilty to two counts of identity theft for an incident on March 19, 2025, in Woodstock.
She was also charged with flight from police and dangerous driving on July 10, 2025, in Hartland. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial date was set for Dec. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Smith was also charged with fleeing police on Oct. 20, 2025, in Woodstock. She will enter a plea on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Smith and a co-accused, Nicholas Hamilton, 31, of Richmond Corner, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 15 for their bail hearings on charges related to a police chase in Lindsay.
Smith was released from custody with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle. She returns to court for plea on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
She was charged with possession of a firearm without a licence, transporting firearms in a careless manner, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, and illegal transport of ammunition.
Hamilton was denied bail and returns to court in custody for plea on Feb. 5 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged by the RCMP with flight from police, dangerous driving, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, possession of a firearm without a licence (a shotgun and rifle), transporting firearms in a careless manner, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm. The charges were laid following a police chase on Jan. 13, during which a spike belt was used to stop a speeding half-ton truck.
Sentence pending for domestic violence
Brady Glen Crawford, 32, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. for sentencing. He was found guilty after trial on several charges related to domestic violence.
Crawford appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 15, 2024, and was released with conditions. He was charged with two counts of assault, uttering threats and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife) concerning an incident on Feb. 11, 2024, in Woodstock.
He was also charged with assault and assault by choking between June 1 and Sept. 1, 2023, in Woodstock; and assault by choking between Sept. 1 and Oct. 1, 2023, in Woodstock. Two other charges were withdrawn by the Crown. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Conditional discharge, probation
Quinten Bikaunieks, 30, of Centreville, received a conditional discharge and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on Jan. 27.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and resisting arrest for an incident on Oct. 10, 2024, in Centreville. Two other charges were withdrawn by the Crown. He had a prior criminal record. The charges were laid by the RCMP.
Held for bail hearing
Emily McSheffrey, 28, of Waterville, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Jan. 27 to answer four charges laid by the RCMP. She was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m.
McSheffrey was charged with breaking into a dwelling house, mischief causing property damage to a door, two counts of uttering threats and assault involving a male victim in connection with an incident on Jan. 26 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). She was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
In custody awaiting plea
Dawson William Boyle, 25, of Taymouth, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 27 to answer nine charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Boyle was charged with multiple counts of possession of stolen property following an incident on Aug. 24, 2025, in Woodstock. He also appeared in court in custody in Saint John on Feb. 2 in relation to other separate charges in Fredericton and Moncton.
Plea adjourned
Nathan Aaron Sewell, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 for plea on two charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m. to allow Defence Counsel Brent Dickinson more time to review the disclosure from the Crown.
Sewell appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 15, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
He was charged with breaching an undertaking (not to drive any vehicle) and indictable possession of a stolen ATV on Dec. 7, 2025, at Wilmot.
Charge withdrawn
The Crown withdrew a charge laid against Dale Boyle, 70, of no fixed address, when he appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27.
Boyle pleaded not guilty to making a visual recording of another person without their consent when there was a reasonable expectation of privacy for an incident between Feb. 1 and Aug. 10, 2024, at Plaster Rock. His trial was scheduled for February, but ongoing disclosure issues with the Crown brought the matter to a halt.
Facing more charges
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 10 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on six new charges laid by the RCMP. He appeared in court on Jan. 27 when the matter was adjourned to allow him time to secure legal counsel.
He was charged with breaching a no-contact order, uttering threats, assault involving a female victim, assault with a weapon (a broom and a board), assault by choking and mischief causing property damage to a cell phone on Oct. 28, 2025, at Lower Brighton.
Brooks appeared in provincial court on Jan. 6 for a monitoring hearing about his multiple trials on 20 other charges. He pleaded not guilty, and trial dates were set for May 13 at 9:30 a.m., June 24 at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 20 at 9:30 a.m., and Aug. 24 at 9:30 a.m. He told the court he was still trying to secure legal counsel.
Brooks was charged by RCMP with five counts of assault involving a female victim, four counts of assault by choking, three counts of unlawful confinement, two counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a phone cord), assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, mischief causing damage to a cell phone, and two counts of breaching a release order (no contact).
The charges were laid in connection with a series of incidents on Nov. 24, 2024, Feb. 12, Feb. 17, May 28, June 9, June 10 and June 11, 2025, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5, 2025, in Hartland, and on Feb. 19, 2025, in Woodstock.
Trial dates set
Robert MacFarlane, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 and pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were set for Feb. 17-18, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
MacFarlane was charged by the RCMP with failing to attend court and breaching his curfew on Dec. 6, 2025, at Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in court in custody on Dec. 31 and was released with conditions.
MacFarlane was also charged with assaulting another man on April 4, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol, and breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief, causing property damage to a door, and breach of an undertaking on May 4, 2024, in Johnville.
MacFarlane also appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by the RCMP. Another trial date was booked for Aug. 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. He was charged with uttering threats and theft of cigarettes in connection with an incident on Feb. 15, 2025, at Florenceville-Bristol.
Fredericton man charged
Laurence Robert Pitre, 37, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on five charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was scheduled to enter a plea on Jan. 27 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Pitre appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Dec. 15, 2025, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged with assault with a weapon, uttering threats, committing mischief and two counts of obstructing police following an incident on Dec. 10, 2025, in Woodstock.
Guilty plea on three charges
Allison Drier, 47, of Carlow, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 and pleaded guilty to three charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was set for March 18 at 1:30 p.m.
Drier was charged with two counts of uttering threats and mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle following an incident on Aug. 2, 2025, at Carlow.
Trial for assault
Michael Thomas Solomon, 52, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Feb. 12, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Solomon was charged with assaulting another man in connection with an incident on Sept. 1, 2025, at Neqotkuk. He was released on an undertaking on Dec. 2, 2025.
Trial on four charges
Cole Chenoweth, 43, of Teeds Mill, will appear for trial in provincial court on Feb. 8, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to four charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Chenoweth was charged with refusing a breathalyzer, impaired driving, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer on Aug. 2, 2025, in Woodstock. His lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf at a court appearance on Jan. 27.
Mainstream woman on trial
Natasha Ginson, 35, of Mainstream, will appear for trial in provincial court on Feb. 11, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to four charges laid by the RCMP.
Ginson was charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, uttering threats and possession of a stolen ATV stemming from an incident on May 18, 2025, at Riverbank. Her lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf at a court appearance on Jan. 27.
Charged with stolen property
Curtis Brent Hatheway, 46, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 to answer a stolen property charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Hatheway was charged with possession of a stolen bicycle on Oct. 3, 2025, in Woodstock. He returns to court for plea on Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Damage at food bank
Elizabeth Alice Davidson, 55, of Nackawic, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 to answer two charges laid by Woodstock Police. She returns to court for plea on Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Davidson was charged with breach of probation and mischief causing property damage on May 26, 2025, at the Valley Food Bank on Houlton Road.
Beechwood woman to stand trial
Courtney Demerchant, 28, of Beechwood, will appear for trial in provincial court after pleading not guilty to an assault charge laid by Woodstock Police. Her trial date was set for Feb. 10, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged with assaulting a male victim in connection with an incident on Feb. 15, 2025, in Woodstock.
She will also appear for trial in provincial court on July 22 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two other assault charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2024, in Beechwood.
Break-in at Perth-Andover
Joseph Nicholas of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 to answer multiple charges laid by the RCMP. He returns to court for plea on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Nicholas was charged with breaking into Shaw’s Service Centre in Perth-Andover, mischief causing property damage to a door, and theft of a motor vehicle on Oct. 25, 2025.
He was also charged with two counts of assault and committing mischief for an incident on Aug. 3, 2025, at Neqotkuk, and driving while suspended and possession of stolen property on Aug. 2, 2025, in Woodstock. He appeared in custody via video in November for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
Trial date next year
Muhammed Iqbal, 42, of Somerville, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to five charges laid by the RCMP.
Iqbal was charged with uttering threats on May 10, 2025, in Somerville; three counts of assault and assault by choking between July 1 and July 31, 2025, in Somerville.
The court heard he is currently living in Montreal, so his lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf. On Jan. 27, a monitoring hearing was held to confirm his trial date.
Arrested on eight charges
Brandon Francis, 30, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 29 at 9:30 a.m. for a bail hearing on eight charges laid by the RCMP. He was scheduled for a bail hearing on Jan. 26 when the hearing was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
Francis was charged with breaking into a dwelling house, possession of a weapon (a knife) for the purpose of committing an offence, indictable assault, uttering threats, breach of probation, and mischief causing property damage on Jan. 10 at Perth-Andover. He was also charged with resisting arrest and breach of probation on Jan. 20 at Perth-Andover.
Juniper man charged
Brian Spike of Juniper appeared in provincial court on Jan. 27 to answer two charges laid by the RCMP. He returns to court for plea on Feb. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Spike was charged with pointing a firearm at another man and assault with a weapon (a shotgun) stemming from an incident on Oct. 31, 2024, at Juniper. He was ordered to follow a curfew and have no firearms in his possession as part of his release order. An arrest warrant was issued after he failed to return to court following his bail hearing.
Government-owned lawnmowers
Timothy Cullins, 49, of Oakland, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 17 at 9:30 a.m. to set a date for his trial on a stolen property charge.
Cullins pleaded not guilty to possession of three stolen riding lawnmowers owned by the provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, stemming from an incident on Sept. 2, 2025, in Oakland. He appeared in court on Jan. 27 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Charges being transferred
Kristen Hamilton Smith, 34, of Carlingford, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 27 for a monitoring hearing about several charges laid by the RCMP. She requested the charges be transferred to Edmundston, so the matter was adjourned until Feb. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Hamilton-Smith appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference in December after being arrested on a warrant. She waived her bail until later and was remanded to jail. On Tuesday, she told Judge Rose Campbell she intends to plead guilty to all the charges.
Hamilton-Smith was charged with breaching a release order by violating electronic monitoring and mischief, causing property damage to her ankle bracelet, in an incident on May 17, 2025, in East Brighton.
She was also charged with possession of a stolen truck on June 27, 2025, in Canterbury; three counts of theft from businesses in Plaster Rock and Perth-Andover on Oct. 27, 2025, and two counts of mischief, break and enter, flight from police, and dangerous driving for an incident on Oct. 23, 2025, in Perth-Andover.
Remanded after bail hearing
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 27 after being arrested for breaching his release order. He returns to court in custody for plea on Feb. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Stewart was charged by the Woodstock Police following an incident on Dec. 4, 2025, in Woodstock. He was denied bail and remanded. He will also enter a plea on another breach charge when he returns to court on Feb. 12.
Stewart appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Dec. 8, 2025, to answer a charge of breaching his release order on Dec. 7, 2025, at Wilmot. He was released on conditions at the time, but was later re-arrested.
He is also awaiting trial on March 12-13 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP.
Stewart was charged by Woodstock Police with dangerous driving, flight from police and breaching his curfew on Dec. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He was also charged with breaching a no-contact order on Jan. 13, 2025, in Woodstock.
Stewart was also charged with two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2024, in Woodstock. He was charged with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25, 2024, in Killoween and possession of a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville.
In custody in federal prison
Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 36, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court in custody via video from federal prison on Jan. 27 to answer a theft charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned for plea until Feb. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Stockford was charged with theft from Brennan’s Home Hardware Store in Woodstock on July 7, 2025.
He also appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 5 and pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of stolen property. His trial was booked for July 13 at 9:30 a.m.
Stockford was charged by the RCMP with possession of a stolen side-by-side for an incident on July 20, 2025, at Waterville. The court heard Stockford was recently sentenced to four years in prison on other charges in Fredericton.
He will also appear for trial in provincial court in custody on March 23 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by the RCMP.
Stockford was charged with breaching his release order following an incident on Feb. 18, 2025, at Bedell, as well as with dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving while suspended, and breach of probation stemming from another incident on Aug. 21, 2024, in Woodstock.
Sentencing in March
Crystal Lee Phillips, 44, of East Brighton, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on Jan. 27 and pleaded guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. She will be sentenced on March 5 at 9:30 a.m. A monitoring hearing will also be held on several other outstanding charges.
Phillips pleaded guilty to breaching her release order (ankle bracelet) and breaking into a dwelling house on July 8, 2025, in Upper Woodstock.
At an earlier court appearance, she pleaded guilty to resisting arrest on March 16, 2025, in Wilmot. Another charge of breaching her curfew on March 17, 2025, was withdrawn.
She also pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2024, in Jacksonville to flight from police and driving while suspended. Another charge of dangerous driving was withdrawn by the Crown. A separate charge of driving while suspended on Feb. 6, 2024, and a breach charge from Jan. 23, 2025, were also withdrawn.
Woodstock Police also charged her with fraudulent impersonation, using a credit card knowing it was obtained by fraudulent means, and defrauding Walmart in Woodstock between Aug. 10, 2019, and June 23, 2023. Her trial date was rescheduled for April 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Phillips also pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house and illegal possession of methamphetamine on March 31, 2024, in Woodstock. Her trial was booked for Feb. 27, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
She appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 29, 2025, for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Shediac under full house arrest. The court heard she is enrolled in a 12-month program. On Nov. 19, her ankle bracelet was removed with the consent of the Crown.
