Sentencing set in neighbour dispute
Laura Lee Boehler, 65, of Richmond Corner, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on April 10 at 9:30 a.m. after being found guilty on two of four charges related to an ongoing dispute with her neighbours.
On Jan. 9, Judge Lucie M. Mathurin delivered her verdict after trial and found Boehler guilty of committing mischief and breaching an undertaking to have no contact with her neighbours.
The judge found Boehler not guilty of criminal harassment and not guilty of assault. She ordered the accused to sign a peace bond compelling her to have no further contact with her neighbours. Any peace bond breach would mean Boehler could face another charge under Section 811 of the Criminal Code.
Boehler sat quietly during the verdict and showed no emotion upon hearing the judge’s decision. She agreed to sign the peace bond as Judge Mathurin ordered.
RCMP charged her with assault with a weapon (a cane), criminal harassment, two counts of committing mischief, and breach of an undertaking concerning incidents between June 28 and Sept. 13, 2021, and between July 3 and Aug. 30, 2021, at Richmond Corner. She appeared in court in custody in September 2021 in relation to the charges and was later released on an order to keep the peace.
Boehler was also charged with breaching a release order and breaching an undertaking following incidents between July 8 and July 21, 2022, at Richmond Corner. The charges allege she violated a no-contact order to stay away from her neighbours and did not refrain from using any handheld or mobile device to do an audio or video recording or take photos.
The charge of breach of a release order was stayed as part of the trial verdict.
Evidence presented by the crown during the trial included video surveillance footage surrounding her neighbours’ property and testimony from Boehler’s neighbours, Duane and Sherry Wortman.
The court heard about the long-standing dispute between the neighbours that began when the Wortmans moved into their home on Boehler Road in 2010. The Boehlers have lived on a farm on the same road for four generations.
“It has not been a good situation over the years,” Judge Mathurin told the court. “Harsh words have been exchanged between the parties, and the police have been called by both parties.”
For years, there have been numerous incidents between the two properties, with authorities being called several times to settle disputes. The Wortmans set up heavy video surveillance around their property, while Boehler took photos and kept a file on her neighbours since she returned to the homestead in 2017. She said she reported her neighbours to the fire department, police, and the provincial environment and transportation departments for various grievances.
Boehler testified she and her mother were being watched daily, and there was lots of noise and name-calling coming from her neighbours. They owned attack dogs, she said, burned garbage, and established a junkyard on the back of their property. She reported them for unsightly premises, and they put up a fence and tarps in 2020 instead of cleaning up their yard.
As for the assault charge, Boehler testified she was acting in defence of her elderly mother when she swung a cane in front of Sherry Wortman during an argument on the public road outside their home.
Judge Mathurin ruled Boehler was not guilty of assault since she was responding to a situation involving her mother, and she was six feet away from Sherry Wortman when she swung the cane. The judge stated there was not enough evidence to show she intended to strike her neighbour.
Mathurin said Boehler did “badger and annoy” her neighbours, but there was no evidence the Wortmans feared for their safety. Therefore, the judge said Boehler was not guilty of criminal harassment.
The judge said Boehler was guilty of mischief because she persisted in taking photos and pulled pranks to infuriate her neighbours. The judge said she was also guilty of breaching an undertaking for yelling back at Duane Wortman when she could have followed the no-contact order and ignored him.
The court heard Boehler often blew her car horn, hit the panic button, and played loud music to “drown out” her neighbours. One summer day, she pulled down her pants and mooned them while walking up Boehler Road.
She was charged with indecent exposure and convicted but then won an appeal to have the conviction overturned on the grounds she was provoked. She said the Wortmans hung a “mooning doll” in a tree to make fun of the incident, but she made them take it down.
Her mother, Joyce Boehler, 92, was also convicted of mischief for repeatedly blowing a basketball whistle at her neighbours. The Boehlers have subsequently filed an appeal of her conviction.
Joyce Boehler was also the subject of a civil action launched by Duane Wortman as part of an insurance claim. In 2016, he was hit by a car driven by Joyce Boehler and claimed he suffered a knee and back injury. He received a significant financial settlement as a result of the civil suit at the Court of King’s Bench.
Arrested and released with conditions
Brooke Carlisle, 24, of Summerfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 8 to answer two charges laid by RCMP. She was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Carlisle was arrested on a warrant on Jan. 5 and spent the weekend in jail. She was 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 accused was ordered to reside in Greenfield, and she must have no contact with the complainant.
Sentencing set on four charges
Felicia J. Fulton, 29, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 8 and pleaded guilty to four charges laid by RCMP. She waived her bail, and a sentencing date was set for Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m.
Fulton was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of gas, breach of probation and uttering counterfeit money (a $100 bill) in connection with an incident at a gas station in Perth-Andover on Jan. 3. The crown withdrew another charge of possession of counterfeit money.
“They’ve got me on video,” Fulton told the court as she entered her guilty pleas.
Canterbury woman returning for plea
Jessica Lynn Ouellet, 35, of Canterbury, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Ouellet was charged with committing mischief, causing property damage to a car, a truck, and a mailbox, concerning an incident on July 9, 2023, in Bloomfield. She was also charged with uttering threats against Rodney Butler for the same incident. Ouellet appeared in court on Jan. 9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Sentencing set on assault charge
Britney Waite, 33, of Centreville, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on April 16 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to an assault charge.
RCMP charged Waite with assaulting a minor in connection with an incident on July 17, 2023, at Centreville. The court heard she slapped the victim twice in the face.
Waite told Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean that she wanted to read a statement to the court at her sentencing hearing in April.
Sentencing adjourned to new date
Kathryn Graham, 27, of Grafton, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 for sentencing on an assault charge. The matter was adjourned until Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Graham with assault on a minor in connection with an incident on May 1, 2023, in Grafton. She pleaded guilty. The crown asked for the adjournment in sentencing to await a victim impact statement.
Eight months in jail or time served
Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 35, of Hartland, was sentenced to eight months in jail or time served when he appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 8. He pleaded guilty to a series of charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police.
The court heard Stockford purged his eight-month sentence while being held in remand for several months last year. However, he was arrested in November on new charges related to a break-in at a Florenceville-Bristol storage facility. He is also being held in custody on more charges in Edmundston.
At his sentencing on Jan. 8, he pleaded guilty to breaching a release order and committing mischief by damaging an ankle bracelet for an incident on March 28, 2023, at Hartland, when he cut off the bracelet and threw it in a snow bank.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property (a motorcycle) and breach of probation for an incident on Oct. 12, 2022, in Woodstock and guilty to theft, stemming from a separate incident on July 4, 2022, at the Atlantic Superstore in Woodstock. The court heard he walked out of the store with over $677 worth of merchandise that was never recovered.
Stockford also pleaded guilty to breaching curfew on Nov. 6, 2022, at Hartland; guilty to breach of a release order and possession of a stolen vehicle on April 2, 2023, at Wotstok (Woodstock First Nation); guilty to theft of a vehicle on April 1, 2023, in Saint John; guilty to breaching curfew and indictable possession of methamphetamine on Nov. 7, 2022, in Fredericton. He was fined $300 on the drug charge.
Stockford has a lengthy prior criminal record. Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean placed him on 12 months of probation and ordered him to seek counselling for drug addiction.
Stockford was charged with theft of fuel from an Esso station in Florenceville-Bristol, breaking into the Sticks and Stones Storage facility on Burnham Road, theft of tires and rims, possession of stolen property, and mischief causing property damage to the storage facility following an incident on Nov. 14, 2023. He pleaded not guilty, and trial dates were set for March 28 and April 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Fined $500 and ordered to pay restitution
Kevin Barry Campbell, 57, of Arthurette, appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan. 8 and changed his plea to guilty on one charge laid by the SPCA. He was fined $500 and ordered to pay $575 in restitution.
Campbell was charged with neglecting an animal, a dog, and failing to provide it with adequate medical attention in relation to an incident on Sept. 12, 2022, at Arthurette. He entered a guilty plea to one charge, and the remaining charge was withdrawn.
Guilty plea in lockdown at Tobique Valley High School
An 18-year-old from Plaster Rock appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 and pleaded guilty to charges related to a lockdown at Tobique Valley High School.
David Fleming will return to court for sentencing on April 16 at 1:30 p.m. RCMP charged him with three counts of uttering threats against three female victims on Nov. 2, 2023, at Plaster Rock. He pleaded guilty to all three counts.
Fleming appeared in court in custody after the incident and was released with conditions. Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean ordered him to stay away from Tobique Valley High School and the residences of the three complainants. He must have no contact with any of the complainants and cannot have firearms or weapons in his possession.
Florenceville-Bristol man held for bail hearing
Jordan Ronald Broad, 29, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 8. He returns to court in custody for a bail hearing on Jan. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP arrested and charged Broad with breach of an undertaking, assault with a weapon (a candleholder) and committing mischief causing property damage for an incident on Jan. 6 in Florenceville-Bristol.
He also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 19 and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Oct. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Broad was charged with assault, uttering threats, and assault by choking involving a female victim concerning an incident on Oct. 8, 2023, in Florenceville-Bristol. He was released on an undertaking until his trial but was taken back into custody on more charges.
Held in custody on three charges
John Long, 34, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court in custody on Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m. for a bail hearing on charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Long was charged with two counts of breaching a release order and breach of probation concerning a Jan. 5 incident in Woodstock. The charges allege he violated electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) and his house arrest related to charges in Saint John. He appeared in court in custody by video in Woodstock on Jan. 8 when a date for his bail hearing was set.
Trial set for Clearview man
Kyle Laurie Williams, 35, of Clearview, will appear for trial in provincial court on Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to one charge laid by RCMP.
Williams was charged with transmitting intimate images without consent concerning an incident on June 4, 2023, at Centreville. He returns to court on April 9 at 9:30 a.m. for monitoring about his trial. Williams entered his not-guilty plea during a court appearance on Jan. 9.
Bloomfield man faces charges
Kenneth Greer, 60, of Bloomfield, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 18 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by RCMP.
Greer was charged with uttering threats, careless use of a firearm, and assault while threatening to use a weapon (a gun) involving a female victim for an incident on Sept. 9, 2023, at Bloomfield. He was scheduled to enter a plea on Jan. 9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Woodstock man to stand trial
Charles Wylie Reinhardt, 37, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial on Jan. 9 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Reinhardt was charged with dangerous driving, flight from police, refusing a breathalyzer demand and resisting arrest following an incident on July 30, 2023, in Woodstock.
Returning to court for plea
Ciji Ann Perley, 35, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m. for plea on one charge laid by RCMP.
Perley was charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm concerning an incident on July 1, 2023, at Neqotkuk. She made a court appearance on Jan. 9 and told the court she now lives in Montreal.
DeLong to stand trial in shooting incident
Wyatt DeLong, 28, of Cloverdale, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 8 after pleading not guilty to four charges. His three-day trial was set for May 3, May 6, and May 10 at 9:30 a.m.
DeLong was charged with discharging a firearm with intent, flight from police, dangerous driving and breach of probation in connection with an incident on July 14, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol when shots were allegedly fired at a police officer.
Janis Buchanan, 28, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Sept. 26 and pleaded guilty to robbery with violence for an incident on May 29, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol. She was sentenced to two years in federal prison on Oct. 24, 2023.
DeLong and Buchanan were arrested after a manhunt in Victoria County in connection with a series of incidents in the upper River Valley.
Bairdsville man pleads not guilty
Ronald Terry Bowmaster, 36, of Bairdsville, appeared in provincial court Jan. 9 and pleaded not guilty to three charges laid by RCMP. His trial date was set for Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Bowmaster was charged by RCMP with breach of probation, failing to comply with the conditions of a peace bond, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house concerning an incident on Nov. 30, 2023, near Juniper.
He appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 1. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Arrest warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Keith Kinney, Jr., 49, of Bath, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Jan. 9 to set a new date for his trial.
Kinney appeared in provincial court in custody on Dec. 18 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear for trial in October. He was released with conditions but then failed to return to court again.
RCMP charged Kinney with assaulting a police officer while threatening to use a weapon (a glass object) following an incident on Jan. 8, 2023, in Bath. He pleaded not guilty during an earlier court appearance and told the court he was tasered by police during the incident.
He also faces a new charge of shoplifting concerning an incident at a store in Bath on Nov. 21, 2023. Kinney will plead to that charge at his next court appearance.
Skiff Lake woman facing several charges
Megan Leigh Harrison, 24, of Skiff Lake, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 6 at 11:30 a.m. for plea on multiple charges.
Harrison was charged by Woodstock Police with uttering threats, assault involving a male victim, assault with a weapon, unlawful entry at a dwelling house, and breach of an undertaking stemming from an incident on Nov. 18, 2023, in Woodstock. She was released on an undertaking until her next court appearance.
On Dec. 19, she faced another charge of impaired driving for an incident on June 10, 2023, in Woodstock. That matter was also set over for plea on Feb. 6.
Senior charged with sexual assault
Maurice Joseph Rossignol, 68, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 and pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. His trial date was set for Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Rossignol in connection with an incident on Aug. 30, 2023, in Woodstock.
Facing impaired driving charge
Jason Randall Watson, 27, of Medford, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 and pleaded not guilty to an impaired driving charge. His trial date was set for Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Watson in connection with an incident on Sept. 1, 2023, near Tobique Narrows.
Trial set on assault charge
Kevin Coutts, 65, of Lower Kintore, will appear for trial in provincial court on May 30 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an assault charge.
On Jan. 9, Defence Counsel David Estey confirmed his client would be ready to proceed to trial. An arrest warrant was issued for Coutts after he failed to appear in court on Dec. 12 for monitoring. The court heard Coutts is currently in Ontario. Estey said he would inform the accused about the warrant.
RCMP charged Coutts with assault involving a female victim following an incident on June 10, 2023, near Kintore.
Benton man to enter plea
Edward Hayes Jr., 27, of Benton, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 to answer two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 23 at 9:30 a.m.
Hayes was charged with driving while prohibited and breach of probation for an incident on the Trans Canada Highway near Woodstock on July 1, 2023.
He will also appear for plea on Jan. 23 on other charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Hayes was charged with assaulting another man and breach of probation concerning an incident on June 1, 2023, in Woodstock.
On Oct. 19, 2023, he appeared for trial in provincial court after pleading not guilty to other charges of sexual assault and unlawful confinement. The trial was adjourned until July 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Hayes was charged by RCMP with sexual assault and unlawful confinement involving a female victim between May 18 and June 13, 2022, in Summerfield.
Returning to court for plea
Terrance Wright, 60, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 to answer four charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Jan. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
Wright appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 14 and was released with conditions. RCMP charged him with three counts of uttering threats against a female victim and committing mischief causing property damage in connection with an incident on Dec. 11 at Greenfield. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Plea adjourned on three charges
Justin Frenette of Florenceville-Bristol will appear in provincial court on Jan. 30, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by RCMP. He was scheduled for plea on Jan. 9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Frenette was charged with assault while threatening to use a weapon (boiling water), assault with a weapon (a lit cigarette) and assault involving a female victim, stemming from three separate incidents in Glassville on Sept. 6, Oct. 10 and Oct. 25, 2023.
Charged with sexual assault
Roger Powers of Plaster Rock will appear for trial in provincial court on Nov. 27 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to sexual assault.
RCMP charged Powers with an incident on June 3, 2023, in Plaster Rock. He entered his not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Jan. 9.
Neqotkuk man charged with fraud
Brock Vollmar, 47, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. for plea on a fraud charge. He was scheduled for plea on Jan. 9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
RCMP charged Vollmar with defrauding the band office of more than $5,000 concerning incidents between July 2 and July 4, 2022, at Neqotkuk.
Perley facing more charges
Jacob Perley, 32, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial on Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. for plea on fraud charges laid by RCMP.
Perley was charged with possessing forged documents (cheques) and defrauding the band office of over $5,000 between June 13 and Oct. 6 at Neqotkuk. He was scheduled for plea on Jan.9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Perley will also stand trial on drug trafficking charges on March 27 at 9:30 a.m. and April 5 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, production of cocaine, unlawful possession of ketamine (a date rape drug) for the purpose of trafficking, possession of methamphetamine, obstruction, and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on Aug. 26, 2022, at Neqotkuk.
Perley will also appear in provincial court on March 19 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing on other charges. He was charged by RCMP with breach of release order, breaking and entering a dwelling house, possessing a weapon dangerous to public peace, assault with a weapon, and using an imitation firearm in connection with a Dec. 16, 2021, incident in the community.
He pleaded guilty to the breach charge and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. The remaining charges will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing.
Sentencing set on drug charge
Stanley Holt, 58, of Bluebell, Victoria County, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Jan. 11 at 9:30 a.m. on charges laid by RCMP.
RCMP charged Holt with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property concerning an incident on Sept. 8, 2021, near Plaster Rock.
He pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of indictable possession of methamphetamine, and a sentencing date was set.
Mischief charge laid in break-in
Darren Richard Hamilton, 63, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Hamilton was charged with breaking into a dwelling house to commit mischief concerning an incident which occurred between Aug. 5 and 6, 2023, in Woodstock. He was scheduled for plea on Jan. 9 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Neqotkuk man awaiting trial
Aaron Barclay Moulton, 39, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 9 for monitoring about his upcoming trial. He returns to court on Feb. 6 at 1:30 p.m. to confirm he will be ready to proceed.
Moulton told the court he had secured legal counsel but was having difficulty contacting his lawyer. He pleaded not guilty to four charges laid by RCMP, and a trial date was set for June 3.
Moulton was charged by RCMP with assault, committing mischief, possession of a prohibited weapon (a taser), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace following an incident on April 23, 2023, at Neqotkuk. He was ordered to report to the police weekly, stay away from the community youth centre, and have no weapons, alcohol, or drugs in his possession.
Two trial dates for Weaver man
Christopher Elliott, 33, of Weaver, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 9 and pleaded not guilty to a series of charges laid by RCMP. He returns to court in custody for trial on April 10 at 9:30 a.m. and April 18 at 9:30 a.m.
Elliott appeared in court in custody via teleconference in October and was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and faced new charges of fraud and possession of stolen property (a debit card) concerning an incident on July 18, 2023, at Plaster Rock.
Elliott was also charged with resisting arrest and possession of ammunition while prohibited for an incident on Oct. 23, 2023, at Perth-Andover. He was also charged with failing to appear in court for his trial in Woodstock on Aug. 23, 2023.
Elliott also pleaded not guilty to firearm charges. He was charged with possessing a prohibited weapon without a licence concerning an incident on November 4, 2020, at Gladwyn. He was also charged under the Fish and Wildlife Act with having a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a firearm without a licence, and hunting without a licence on Nov. 4, 2020.
Elliott and Amber Holt, 32, of Bluebell, were jointly charged by RCMP with possession of a firearm without a licence (.22 Magnum rifle) and careless use of a firearm for another incident on June 22, 2022, in Weaver.
Elliott was also charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it in connection with the same incident in Weaver. Holt was sentenced in December to 15 months in custody at a drug rehabilitation facility after pleading guilty to multiple charges.
