RCMP officer’s plea adjourned to January
Constable Christopher Sorensen, 44, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on theft charges and one count of breach of trust.
Sorensen was scheduled for plea on Dec. 11, but the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
The police officer did not attend the hearing on Dec. 11. He faces four counts of theft and one count of breach of trust in connection with missing and unaccounted-for exhibits, including cash, seized during a recent crime investigation. Sorensen was a member of the Provincial Crime Reduction Unit.
The charges against him followed an investigation by the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), an agency that independently investigates accusations against police officers in New Brunswick. The investigation by SIRT was launched in April.
Fined $1,800 for driving offence
Brooke Carlisle, 25, of Summerfield, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 12 and changed her plea to guilty on a charge of driving without due care and attention laid under the Motor Vehicle Act. Judge Karen Lee fined her $1,800.
Carlisle was originally charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm and reckless endangerment following an accident in Greenfield on July 2, 2023, when a woman was injured outside her home by a moving vehicle. The crown withdrew the two criminal charges following Carlisle’s guilty plea on the motor vehicle offence.
The court heard the victim arrived at her residence at night to find Carlisle parked in her driveway. She pulled her car in behind Carlisle and got out to find out why the accused was at her home.
Carlisle turned her vehicle around, spun her tires on wet grass and then sped away, striking the woman with her front bumper while making her escape. The victim was knocked to the ground and suffered an injured leg and ankle, cuts and bruises. She was treated at the hospital and released on crutches.
Defence Counsel Patrick Hurley and Crown Prosecutor Daniel Standing agreed Carlisle was unaware she hit the victim when she fled the scene in the dark. She had no prior criminal record.
Carlisle told Judge Lee she had no comments to make about the incident. In January, she appeared in provincial court in custody by video and was released with conditions. She was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear and spent the weekend in jail.
Sentenced on drug and weapon charges
Dynielle Allison Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 13 and changed her plea to guilty on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. She received a six-month conditional sentence order, including one month of house arrest and five months of following a curfew.
Demerchant was also placed on 12 months of probation. She pleaded guilty to indictable possession of methamphetamine and possession of a prohibited weapon (a switchblade) in connection with an incident on Dec. 22, 2022, in Woodstock. A trafficking charge was withdrawn.
Demerchant was also charged with identity theft (cards) and possession of methamphetamine concerning another incident on May 2 in Woodstock. The crown also withdrew those charges.
216 days in jail or time served
Brandon Michael Francis, 29, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 13 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 216 days in jail or time served and was released from custody.
Francis was also placed on 12 months of probation. He pleaded guilty to two counts of committing mischief causing property damage and breach of probation on July 17 at Neqotkuk, and guilty to assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim and breach of probation on July 19. The crown withdrew three other charges. He appeared in court in custody on July 23 and was denied bail on Aug. 29.
The court heard Francis punched a woman in the mouth and cut her lip during a domestic dispute at Neqotkuk on July 19. Francis admitted to the offence. He had a lengthy prior criminal record.
Judge Karen Lee ordered him to register with the federal DNA database and prohibited him from possessing any weapons. Lee also recommended Francis undergo counselling as required.
Carlingford man facing six charges
Patrick Campbell, 29, of Carlingford, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to answer six charges laid by RCMP.
Campbell was charged with sexual assault involving a female victim, assault causing bodily harm, assault by choking, assault with a weapon (a knife), attempting to obstruct justice, and administering a noxious substance in connection with incidents between 2020 and 2024 in Victoria County.
Campbell made his first court appearance on Dec. 10 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date.
Guilty on assault with utility knife
Gregory Sparks, 24, of no fixed address, appeared for trial in provincial on Dec. 13 and changed his plea to guilty on three charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for April 10, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Sparks pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon (a utility knife) involving a female victim and uttering threats concerning an incident on April 20 at Centreville. He also pleaded guilty to breach of an undertaking by violating a no-contact order.
Charged with drug trafficking
Charles Giberson, 46, of Rothesay, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 to answer a charge of drug trafficking laid by Woodstock Police.
Giberson was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from an incident on July 24 in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking and returns to court for plea on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Beechwood man held for bail hearing
Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 after being arrested on the weekend by RCMP. He returns to court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Hargrove was charged with possession of stolen vehicle, flight from police, driving while prohibited and driving while suspended following an incident on Dec. 8 at Tobique Narrows.
He was also charged with breaking into a cabin, theft, and mischief causing property damage to a door in relation to a separate incident. More charges of aggravated assault involving a male victim and possession of a stolen motorcycle were also laid for an incident on Aug. 27 at Upper Kent.
Fined $1,000 for impaired driving
Karie Lynn Farrell, 37, of Leduc, Alberta, was fined $1,000 when she appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 and pleaded guilty to impaired driving.
Woodstock Police charged Farrell in connection with an incident on July 7 on Main Street in Woodstock. The court heard she had just left the local Legion around 1:30 a.m. when she was spotted by police crossing the centre line. She had no prior criminal record.
Benton man returning for plea
William McKinney, 44, of Benton, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
McKinney was charged with impaired driving and flight from police concerning an incident on Sept. 10 at Benton. He was scheduled for plea on Dec. 10 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Trial continuation next week
Jerry Inman, 68, of Kincardine, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 13 after pleading not guilty to a firearm charge laid by RCMP. After a half-day of testimony, the trial was scheduled to continue on Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Inman was charged with intentionally discharging a firearm into or at a place, knowing another person was present there in connection with an incident on April 27, 2023, in Kincardine. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Oct. 3, 2023.
Released on undertaking
Austin Tylor Saulis, 29, of Saint John, appeared in provincial court on Dec. 10 to answer four charges laid by Woodstock Police. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Oct. 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Saulis was charged with two counts of uttering threats and two counts of assault involving a female victim following incidents between April 1, 2023, and Sept. 4 in Woodstock. He was released on an undertaking until his next court appearance.
Sentencing set for Neqotkuk man
Philip Sappier-Solomon, 31, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail and pleaded guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. A sentencing date was set for Jan. 28, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Sappier-Solomon was charged by RCMP with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, mischief causing property damage (a phone), breach of peace bond, and breach of probation following an incident on Nov. 27 at Centreville.
He pleaded guilty to assault by choking and breach of a peace bond, and the remaining charges were withdrawn by the crown. He remains in custody until sentencing. Sappier-Solomon had a prior criminal record.
Released with conditions
Robert McFarlane, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 11 and was released with conditions.
McFarlane was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court. A new date for his trial was set for Oct. 31, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged McFarlane with assaulting another man on April 4 at Florenceville-Bristol, breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and breach of an undertaking on May 4 in Johnville. He was arrested on a warrant on June 27 and released with conditions.
On Aug. 20, he appeared in provincial court to set a date for his trial after pleading not guilty. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 3, when he failed to appear.
As part of his release, McFarlane was ordered to follow a curfew, have no contact with the complainant and stay away from a residence in Johnville. He was also prohibited from the use of firearms.
Trial date set
Gary Ross, 45, of Richmond Settlement, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date for his assault charge.
RCMP charged Ross with assaulting another man following an incident on Feb. 22 at Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Dec. 10.
Facing weapons charges
London Murchison, 19, of Plaster Rock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Murchison was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) and possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife) concerning an incident on Sept. 2 at Plaster Rock. He made his first court appearance on Dec. 10 and was released on an undertaking until his next court date.
Neqotkuk man charged with assault
Shawn Carmichael, 63, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Carmichael was charged with assault involving a female victim and assault with a weapon in relation to an incident on Oct. 4 at Neqotkuk. He made his first court appearance on Dec. 10, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Trial for aggravated assault
Tusha Mae Sawyer, 46, of Carlingford, appeared for trial in provincial court on Dec. 13 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP.
Sawyer was charged with aggravated assault against another woman and indictable breach of probation in connection with an incident on July 29 at Gladwyn. The trial continued late into Friday afternoon, with crown witnesses testifying about an alleged violent altercation between the two women.
Neqotkuk man sentenced to 75 days
Austin Aube, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 13 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 75 days in jail and 12 months of probation.
Aube pleaded guilty to flight from police on July 12 at Neqotkuk and resisting arrest on May 8 at Neqotkuk. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond in relation to other charges of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a female victim and assault by choking, both related to the May 8 incident.
Aube appeared in court in custody by video on Aug. 29 after being arrested on a warrant. He waived his bail until later. He remains in custody to await trial on other charges on Feb. 5, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Aube was charged with flight from police, two counts of assaulting a police officer with a weapon (an ATV), resisting arrest, dangerous driving, possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles), possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, and breach of an undertaking on July 28 at Neqotkuk.
Held for bail hearing
Mitchell LaFrance, 26, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 for a bail hearing after being arrested for breaching his release order. His bail hearing was adjourned until Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
LaFrance was charged by RCMP in connection with an alleged breach of his house arrest on Dec. 7. He also returns to court in custody on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on other charges.
RCMP charged LaFrance with breaching a no-contact order for an incident on Sept. 21 at Florenceville-Bristol. He also faces a charge of assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim stemming from an incident on July 19 at Carlingford.
LaFrance also appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 10 and changed his plea to guilty on two other charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court for sentencing on Jan. 21, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
LaFrance pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking by failing to comply with a no-contact order on Oct. 2, 2023, at East Brighton.
He also pleaded guilty to criminal harassment for incidents between Aug. 28 and Sept. 25, 2023, in Lower Brighton, involving the same female complainant. The court heard he tried to contact the same female victim hundreds of times by phone, text message and on Facebook. The crown withdrew a threat charge.
Awaiting plea in knife incident
Chelsea Sacobie, 31, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.
Sacobie was charged by RCMP with assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a male victim following an incident on Oct. 10 at Perth-Andover. She made her first court appearance on Dec. 10, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Released with conditions
Shawn Sullivan, 38, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 12 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Sullivan with assaulting another man and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Nov. 23 at Plaster Rock and Gladwyn. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant. Sullivan had a prior criminal record.
Bail hearing adjourned
Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 for a bail hearing. Judge Sebastian Michaud adjourned her bail hearing until Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police charged King with breach of a release order by violating electronic monitoring between Dec. 7 and Dec. 9 in Woodstock. She is also awaiting trial on other separate matters.
King was charged by Woodstock Police with assault with a weapon (a knife), and assault causing bodily harm to a male victim, theft, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house, concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2023 in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty and her trial dates were rescheduled for April 14 and April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
She was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving, committing mischief causing property damage and assault using a vehicle following an incident on Sept. 17, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty and her trial was adjourned until May 8, 2025.
King was also charged with possessing a stolen vehicle on Nov. 22, 2022, and failing to attend court on Feb. 21, 2023. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for April 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Trial continues for Centreville man
Stacey Harry Broad, 56, of Centreville, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Dec. 11 after pleading not guilty to assault and mischief charges laid by RCMP. After a half-day of testimony, the trial was adjourned until Jan. 22, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Broad appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 23 and was denied bail. On May 9, he pleaded not guilty to multiple assault charges laid by RCMP.
Broad was charged with assault, assault by choking, sexual assault and unlawful confinement involving a female victim in connection with an incident in the County of York between April 3 and April 10.
He was released from custody with conditions but was re-arrested on a charge of breaching his release order on April 15.
Sentencing rescheduled for Davenport
Timothy Grant Davenport, 46, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 13 for sentencing after changing his plea to guilty on six charges laid by RCMP. Judge Karen Lee adjourned his sentencing until Dec. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Davenport was charged by RCMP with theft of a gun and ammunition, committing mischief by breaking a window, resisting arrest, possession of a prohibited weapon (a loaded sawed-off shotgun), reckless discharge of a firearm, pointing a firearm at another man, possession of a firearm without a licence, possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a firearm while prohibited, in connection with an incident on Nov. 26, 2023, near Lakeville.
Three of the charges were withdrawn by the crown and one firearm charge was reduced to a lesser included offence.
Davenport appeared in court for a bail hearing on Nov. 29, 2023, and was remanded to jail. He also awaits sentencing for another offence after pleading guilty to a fraud charge.
Released from custody until sentencing
Bradley Tyler Whitney, 42, of Newbridge, appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 4 and was released with conditions until his sentencing in the New Year. The court heard he was entering a rehab facility in Moncton and would remain there under house arrest.
On Nov. 27, Whitney changed his plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Whitney appeared in court on Aug. 26 and was denied bail. He pleaded guilty to forging a doctor’s prescription for Dilaudid on July 30 in Woodstock, guilty to causing property damage to a dwelling house on Slipp Street, guilty to uttering threats, and breach of probation on July 14.
He also pleaded guilty to a separate theft charge under $5,000 for an incident on Dec. 17, 2023, at Madawaska First Nation. The crown withdrew two other charges of fraud and using counterfeit money (a $100 American bill) on Jan. 1 in Newbridge.
Whitney pleaded not guilty to other charges of assaulting a female victim, uttering threats and breach of probation on Aug. 24 in Woodstock and not guilty to assault with a weapon (a torch) involving a female victim between July 1-28 in Woodstock. On Dec. 13, his trial was reset for Sept. 29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. He had a limited prior criminal record.
Wotstak man back in custody
Brian Keith Reynolds, 45, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12. He was charged with breaching his release order. His bail hearing was set for Dec. 16 at 1:30 p.m.
Reynolds was charged with breaching his release order (curfew) concerning an incident on Dec. 10 at Wotstak.
He also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 5 to answer several other charges laid by RCMP. Those matters were adjourned until Jan. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to allow him time to secure new legal counsel.
RCMP charged him with uttering threats against a female victim, breach of probation, and driving while suspended, stemming from an incident on Oct. 8, 2023, in Bloomfield. He pleaded not guilty and returns to court on Jan. 7 to set a trial date.
Reynolds was also charged with two counts of resisting arrest on Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 27, 2023, at Wotstak. On Sept. 17, he faced two new charges of assault and assault with a weapon concerning another incident on Aug. 4 at Wotstak. He returns for plea on those charges on Jan. 7.
Reynolds appeared in provincial court in custody in July and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
In custody awaiting trial
Curtis Brent Hatheway, 43, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 6 to set new dates for his trial on charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial dates were rescheduled for Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m. and Jan. 20, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Hatheway appeared in custody by video on Nov. 21 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail and was remanded to jail. He was arrested on a warrant.
Hatheway pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of breach of probation and two counts of breaching a peace bond between June 30 and July 8 and on Sept. 13 in Woodstock; breach of an undertaking, breach of probation, breach of a peace bond and criminal harassment between Sept. 14 and Sept.16 in Woodstock. The charges relate to a no-contact order involving a female complainant. He has a prior criminal record.
He was also charged with breach of probation and breach of a peace bond for incidents between May 24 and Sept. 13 in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Dec. 12. His trial date was set for Dec. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Trial set for spring
Stephen Perley, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 and pleaded not guilty to multiple firearm charges. His trial dates were set for March 28, 2025, and April 4, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Perley appeared in court in custody on Nov. 4 and was denied bail. RCMP charged him with unlawful transport of firearms (several rifles, a shotgun, and a nine-millimetre handgun), possession of prohibited firearms, two counts of transporting firearms carelessly, two counts of possessing firearms without a licence, and possession of a firearm with the serial number altered in connection with an incident on Sept. 24 at Neqotkuk.
He was also charged with flight from police and breach of probation for a separate incident on Sept. 14. Perley had a prior criminal record.
Plea pending after sentencing
Patrick Myers, 39, of Fredericton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 for plea on three charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Myers was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, breach of an undertaking and possession of ammunition while prohibited in connection with an incident on May 20 at Plaster Rock. The court heard Myers was awaiting sentencing on other matters in Fredericton on Jan. 14.
Plea delayed, accused in rehab
Douglas Thomas Defazio, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Dec. 11 from a rehab facility in Moncton. He was scheduled to enter a plea on several charges but the matter was adjourned until Dec. 27 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Defazio was released with conditions following a bail hearing on Aug. 22 and was ordered to enter rehab. He 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.
Defazio faces two counts of break 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 breach of recognizance. The crown withdrew another separate charge of uttering threats.
Trial adjourned for Grand Falls man
Michael Langlois-Martell, 33, of Grand Falls, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody by video on Dec. 12 on charges laid by the RCMP. At the request of his defence counsel, the trial was adjourned until June 27, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Langlois-Martell was charged with possessing a stolen vehicle (a Toyota Tundra), possessing a firearm without a licence (a pump-action shotgun), storing a firearm carelessly, and possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace for an incident on Aug. 4, 2023, near Tobique Narrows. He pleaded not guilty on Jan. 23.
He told the court he was currently serving a sentence on other charges in Edmundston.
