Judge and jury trial set for 15 days for breach of trust case
Constable Christopher Sorensen, 45, a member of the Woodstock RCMP, will stand trial by judge and jury at the Court of King’s Bench beginning on Jan. 25, 2027. Fifteen days have been set aside for the trial.
The police officer 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 drug 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 SiRT investigation was launched in April 2024.
Decision pending for RCMP officer charged with assault
A Woodstock RCMP officer will appear at the Court of King’s Bench on May 1 at 10 a.m. for a verdict following his trial on an assault charge.
Cpl. Andrew Whiteway pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault for allegedly striking a woman in the face during an arrest in Richmond Corner on June 13, 2024. Defence Counsel T.J. Burke is representing the accused.
At the time of the incident, police were called to a family disturbance at a residence in Richmond Corner when a female suffered serious injuries during an altercation.
The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT), responsible for investigating matters involving police officers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, investigated the incident and laid the charge.
Whiteway was temporarily reassigned to administrative duties until the case is resolved.
Eight-month conditional sentence
Bonnie Noel, 57, of Dow Settlement, received an eight-month conditional sentence order and 12 months of probation when she appeared in provincial court on April 8. She will spend four months of her sentence under house arrest and then four months following a curfew.
Noel pleaded guilty to breaching three undertakings (no-contact) between Jan. 21, 2024, and Aug. 6, 2024, at North Lake, Canterbury and Jacksonville; guilty to breach of a peace bond on Aug. 6, 2024 at Jacksonville; guilty to two counts of assault on Aug. 6, 2024, at Canterbury; and guilty to two counts of failing to appear in court between March 14 and June 13. Several other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
She pleaded not guilty to another assault on Aug. 6, 2024, at Jacksonville and her trial was set for Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
At a hearing on March 17, the court heard details of an ongoing domestic dispute, family tragedy, mental health issues, and the breakdown of a toxic relationship, which caused Noel to lose control of her emotions. She had no prior criminal record. The RCMP laid the charges.
Judge and jury trial
Jacob David Murray Munn, 31, of Woodstock, will appear for trial at the Court of King’s Bench on May 17, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. Five days have been set aside for the trial before a judge and jury.
On Feb. 26, Munn pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault. He appeared in provincial court on Dec. 18, 2025, in custody for a bail hearing and was released on conditions, including a curfew. On Jan. 13, his conditions were varied to allow him to return to a residence in Woodstock. He must abstain from alcohol and drugs during his release.
Munn was charged by Woodstock Police with aggravated assault on another man by wounding him on Dec. 7, 2025, near the Knights of Columbus Hall on Charles Street. The charge was laid after the victim was transported to the hospital in Fredericton for treatment of serious injuries. Munn has no prior criminal record.
A co-accused, Colton Kyle Weeks, 29, of Rosedale, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 5 and pleaded not guilty. His trial date in provincial court was set for Jan. 28-29, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. He was released from custody on $2,500 bail on Dec. 15, 2025, with conditions.
Sentenced for impaired driving
Cindy Darlene Nicholson, 51, of Upper Woodstock, was handed a six-month conditional sentence order and 12 months of probation when she appeared in provincial court on April 10 after pleading guilty to impaired driving.
Judge Henrik Tonning also prohibited Nicholson from driving for 18 months and ordered her to seek counselling for alcohol addiction. During her conditional sentence, she must abstain from alcohol use.
Nicholson had a dated prior criminal record that included previous impaired driving convictions. The judge noted she was self-employed with a strong work record, and he said jail time would not help her stay working.
Nicholson was charged by Woodstock Police in connection with an incident on Oct. 16, 2023, in Woodstock. The court heard she was caught at a traffic stop for speeding when police found her impaired behind the wheel with alcohol in the vehicle.
Prior to her sentencing, a hearing was held about Nicholson’s application to the court, citing delays in her case. By law, criminal proceedings in provincial court must conclude within 18 months of charges being laid, or they can be stayed.
Judge Tonning ruled that most of the delays were caused by the accused, as Nicholson appeared in court several times without legal counsel. Shortly after making her application, she waived the delay and eventually pleaded guilty to the charge. Tonning decided there was no unreasonable delay by the Crown and dismissed her application.
Sentencing adjourned
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court in custody for sentencing on April 10 after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges. His sentencing was adjourned until April 27 at 1 p.m. at the request of the Crown.
Stewart was charged by Woodstock Police with breaching his release order stemming from incidents on Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, 2025, in Woodstock. He was denied bail and remanded. On March 12, he pleaded guilty.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police and breaching his curfew on Dec. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He also pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order on Jan. 13, 2025, in Woodstock. The charges were laid by Woodstock Police.
Stewart also pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order (curfew) concerning incidents on Sept. 24 and Oct. 8, 2024, in Woodstock. He was charged by the RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25, 2024, in Killoween and possession of a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville. He pleaded guilty on March 12.
All charges withdrawn
Damian Oakes, 26, of Coldstream, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 10 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. The Crown withdrew all the charges against him, and the trial was cancelled.
Oakes was charged with uttering threats and unlawful entry at a dwelling house in connection with an incident on Dec. 2, 2024, at Coldstream.
He was also charged with indictable sexual assault, touching for a sexual purpose, and using a weapon to commit an assault (a lighter) in connection with an incident between Jan. 1, 2017 and Dec. 13, 2021.
Trial in May for Oakland man
Grant Rediker, 43, of Oakland, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on April 9 for a monitoring hearing regarding his May trial on two sets of charges laid by the RCMP. The court heard a resolution was being sought with the Crown, so another monitoring hearing was booked for April 22 at 1:30 p.m.
Rediker pleaded not guilty to breach of a no-contact order and to criminal harassment, stemming from incidents between Jan. 21 and Jan. 26 in Florenceville-Bristol. He appeared in court in custody via video for a bail hearing on Feb. 5 and waived his bail until later.
At an earlier court appearance, Rediker pleaded not guilty to other separate charges and trial dates were set for May 1 and May 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Rediker was charged by the RCMP with assault with a weapon (a vehicle), possession of ammunition while prohibited, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, careless use of a firearm, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, break and enter at a garage, and illegal possession of methamphetamine.
The charges were laid in connection with an incident involving a female victim on March 12, 2025, in Oakland.
Plea adjourned
Shane Lee Dickison, 38, of Hodgdon Road, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on April 8 for plea on charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until April 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Dickison appeared in provincial court in custody on March 6 for a bail hearing after being remanded for a 30-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital. He was found fit to stand trial and was released to a rehab facility in Moncton.
He was charged by the RCMP with breach of probation, assaulting another man, two counts of uttering threats, mischief causing property damage to a vehicle, and resisting arrest on Feb. 4 at Mapledale; and uttering threats between Feb. 1 and Feb. 2 at Mapledale. A peace bond request was later filed by two complainants. A police operation in the Mapledale area on the evening of Feb. 4 led to Dickison’s arrest.
Preliminary hearing in July
Jessie Ginson, 36, of Bull Lake, appeared in provincial court on April 9 for a preliminary hearing after electing trial by judge and jury at the Court of King’s Bench on two indictable charges laid by the RCMP. The preliminary hearing was adjourned until July 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Ginson appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 6 on charges of breaking into a dwelling house and committing robbery in connection with an incident on Jan. 3 in Windsor. He pleaded not guilty and was released with conditions.
A pre-trial conference was scheduled for June 16 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm that legal counsel will be available for the preliminary hearing.
Newbridge man awaits sentencing
Bernard Murray Turner, 38, of Newbridge, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 9 and changed his plea to guilty on a firearm charge. A sentencing date was set for May 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Turner pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence (a shotgun) for an incident on Nov. 5, 2024, at Carlow.
He pleaded not guilty to flight from police stemming from an incident on Feb. 16, 2024, and a new trial date was set for Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m.
Turner was also charged by Woodstock Police with breaching a release order (no-contact), uttering threats, assault, and dangerous driving concerning an incident on June 4, 2025, in Woodstock. His trial dates were set for Oct. 5 at 9:30 a.m. and Oct. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Trial continues in June
Cindy Demerchant, 53, of Lower Kintore, appeared in provincial court on April 10 for the continuation of her trial on two charges laid by the RCMP. The trial was adjourned until June 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged with break and enter and theft of food and money from Tim Hortons in Perth Andover between May 9 and May 31, 2024. She pleaded not guilty.
Evidence presented by the Crown at trial included video surveillance from the restaurant. Testimony from staff revealed that Demerchant was an employee who allegedly entered the premises after hours.
Charges withdrawn
Adam Victor Jinson, 50, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on two charges on April 8. The Crown withdrew the charges, and the trial was cancelled. Jinson was charged by Woodstock Police with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats.
New trial date
Bianca Laqua, 35, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 8 after pleading not guilty to one charge laid by Woodstock Police. The trial was adjourned until June 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Laqua was charged with refusing a breathalyzer in connection with an incident on Sept. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. Her trial was initially scheduled for December but was rescheduled to give her more time to seek legal counsel.
Returning for plea
Dana Newell, 28, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on April 10 to answer two charges laid by the RCMP. He was charged with possession of stolen property and breach of probation. He returns to court for plea on May 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Trial continues in May
Paul Allingham, 48, of Enterprise in Victoria County, appeared for trial in provincial court on April 8 after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.
After a half-day of testimony, the trial was adjourned for continuation on May 29 at 1:30 p.m. Allingham was charged with assaulting another man in connection with an incident on Sept. 17, 2024, near Plaster Rock.
