Sentencing delayed for Hayes until Friday
Sentence has been reserved until July 17 at 1:30 p.m. for a Benton man who led police on a wild chase and, days later, jumped into the Eel River.
Edward Hayes, Jr., 30, appeared in provincial court via video in custody for sentencing on July 14 after changing his plea to guilty on a raft of charges laid by the Woodstock Police and the RCMP.
Judge Rose Campbell told the court she was ready to hand down her decision, but then adjourned it until Friday due to a late disclosure from the Crown.
At an earlier court appearance, Crown Prosecutor Sean Corscadden recommended Hayes serve 54 months in federal prison, minus time served, which would leave him with 40 months behind bars once his 417 days in remand are applied. The Crown lawyer also requested a five-year driving prohibition. He said Hayes’ drug-fuelled crime spree involved several incidents and used up a lot of police resources. Despite the danger he caused, no one was injured.
Defence Counsel Tim Murphy requested 23 months in jail, minus time served, and asked that Hayes serve the remainder of his sentence in a Moncton rehab facility. Should the judge agree, Hayes would have 14 months in rehab once his remand time is applied.
Hayes was denied bail on Nov. 6, 2025. He has been in custody since his arrest last August and has a lengthy prior criminal record.
Hayes pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his house arrest, dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, possession of a stolen ATV, two counts of assaulting police, and mischief causing damage to a police vehicle by ramming it during incidents in Benton and Teeds Mill on July 25, 2025.
He also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, flight from police, driving while prohibited, and uttering threats on July 25, 2025, in Woodstock. A breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
The court heard how Hayes fled Benton on a stolen ATV and led police on a wild chase through Woodstock. He drove over the lawn at the Woodstock Courthouse before heading to the RCMP detachment on Connell Street, where he drove over the lawn and spun the ATV around in the parking lot. He drove off again and uttered threats to construction workers behind Sobeys before making his escape. Days later, he was involved in three more incidents.
Hayes was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife), uttering threats and theft of a motor vehicle on Aug. 14, 2025, in Benton and theft of gas on Aug. 14, 2025, at the Debec Store. He pleaded guilty to stealing the gas and agreed to sign a 12- month peace bond for the assault and threats. The Crown withdrew the remaining charge.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to obstructing police following a bizarre incident on Aug. 15, 2025, near Meductic when he jumped into the Eel River and was captured and taken into custody. The court heard that a police helicopter and boat were called to the scene. Hayes refused to surrender to the police and would not take a life jacket. He swam back to shore after spending 45 minutes in the water and was arrested.
Hayes also pleaded guilty to another charge of assault, transferred from Edmundston. The court heard Hayes assaulted a correctional officer at the jail on Feb. 12, 2025, by pushing him and kicking him in the chest. The officer was knocked down a stairway, but another staff member caught him and broke his fall.
Not guilty on sex charges
Joseph Michael Sercerchi, 74, of Bayfield, Ontario, appeared at the Court of King’s Bench on June 1 for a verdict and was found not guilty after trial on three sex charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Sercerchi was charged with three counts of indictable assault involving a female minor in connection with incidents alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 1991, and Dec. 31, 1998, in Woodstock. He was committed to stand trial after a preliminary hearing in October 2024.
16 new charges for Bustard
Mason Darren Bustard, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on July 13 to answer 16 new charges laid by Woodstock Police. The charges were adjourned for plea until after his bail hearing on July 15.
The new charges against Bustard include theft of tools, possession of stolen tools, prowling at night on Cambridge Street, five counts of attempting to steal from a vehicle, two counts of mischief causing property damage to the key and ignition of two vehicles, five counts of theft, and possession of stolen property. All the alleged incidents took place on April 7-8 in Woodstock.
At an earlier court appearance, Bustard was also charged with possession of stolen property, possession of break-in tools and breach of probation in connection with a rash of vehicle break-ins on April 7-8 in the Elizabeth Street, Creighton Street and Rose Court areas. He was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle from the Legacy Ford dealership in Woodstock on April 30.
Bustard was also charged with flight from police and mischief causing property damage to a lawn at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); breach of probation, possession of a stolen truck, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a knife), and breaching a release order in Woodstock; two counts of breaching his release order and mischief causing property damage to his ankle bracelet in Bloomfield; and flight from police and theft of fuel in Florenceville-Bristol. All the incidents are alleged to have occurred on April 30.
Defence Counsel Tim Murphy said his client planned to plead not guilty to all the charges, but would not request a trial date until after Bustard’s bail hearing.
Probation and counselling
Nicole Ann Demerchant, 47, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on July 14 after pleading guilty to an assault charge. She was placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to seek counselling for anger management.
Demerchant was charged by Woodstock Police with assaulting another woman on Aug. 10, 2025, on Broadway Street in Woodstock by punching her twice in the head. She was ordered to have no contact with the complainant. Demerchant had no prior criminal record.
Incident in Maxwell
Pipo Michaud, 52, of Maxwell, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by the RCMP.
Michaud was charged with uttering threats against a female victim on May 20 in Maxwell, and possession of a firearm without a licence on May 26 in Maxwell. He made his first court appearance on July 14 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Agreed to peace bond
Seth McAskill, 22, of Wapske, appeared for trial in provincial court on July 14 after pleading not guilty to assault charges laid by the RCMP. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled.
McAskill appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 2, 2025, and was released with conditions. He was charged with two counts of assault involving a female victim on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, 2024, at Plaster Rock, and breach of an undertaking by violating a no-contact order on Jan. 20, 2025, at Plaster Rock. The breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown. The peace bond will result in the other charges being withdrawn.
Preliminary hearing in September
Jessie Ginson, 36, of Bull Lake, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. 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.
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.
He was in court for a pre-trial conference on July 13 when the date for his preliminary hearing was rebooked for Sept. 18.
Remanded until trial
Trevor Lee Crain, 50, of Killoween, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on July 13 after being arrested on warrant for failing to appear for his trial. He was denied bail and remanded to jail to await his new trial date on Oct. 2 at 9:30 a.m.
Crain pleaded not guilty to breaking into a residence and committing sexual assault on a female victim for an incident between May 1, 2023, and May 23, 2023, at Moose Mountain. A new charge was laid this week for failing to come to court, and his plea date was set for Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
He is also awaiting sentencing on several other charges laid by the RCMP. The sentencing was adjourned until his trial in October.
Crain spent five months in remand before being released from custody in August 2025 to await sentencing after changing his plea.
He pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his release order (house arrest) in connection with three incidents between Jan. 30 and Feb. 7 at Beechwood.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) and breach of a release order in connection with an incident on July 1, 2024, at Killoween. Another charge of resisting arrest was withdrawn by the Crown.
Crain also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen dirt bike on May 25, 2024, and guilty to breaching his release order by failing to appear in court on July 11, 2023.
He pleaded guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house and breaching an undertaking on June 15, 2023, at Moose Mountain, and committing an assault involving a female victim on June 11, 2023, at Killoween.
Plea on sex charge
John Travis Martin, 47, of Belleville, will appear in provincial court on July 21 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on a sex charge laid by local police.
Martin was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident on June 26, 2017, in Woodstock. He appeared in court on July 14 when the matter was adjourned at the request of his legal counsel.
Arrested and released
Allison Lee Demerchant, 67, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 11 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, committing mischief, and breach of an undertaking following incidents in Florenceville-Bristol on May 30 and June 5. He appeared in court via video in custody for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
East Brighton man charged
William Perley Trecartin of East Brighton will appear in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to enter a plea to two charges laid by the Woodstock Police.
Trecartin was charged with impaired driving and driving while suspended following an incident on Feb. 28 in Woodstock. He appeared in court on July 14 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Facing sex charges
Lyle Tibbets, 53, of Florenceville-Bristol, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Tibbets was charged with touching a minor for a sexual purpose and invitation to sexual touching between June 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, at Mount Pleasant. He was also charged with sexual assault and touching a minor for a sexual purpose between June 30, 2024, and Nov. 7, 2025, at Mount Pleasant. He was scheduled for plea on July 14 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Greenfield man awaiting trial
William Miller, 54, of Greenfield, will appear for trial in provincial court on Jan. 25, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. On July 14, the court heard he had legal counsel to proceed to trial. A pre-trial conference was then scheduled for Sept. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Miller was charged with impaired driving and driving while prohibited concerning an incident in May 2025 in Bairdsville.
Coldstream man facing sex charges
Donald Grant Ealey, 66, of Coldstream, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Ealey was charged with sexual assault, touching for a sexual purpose, and engaging a minor in sexual activity in connection with incidents between May 1, 2025, and Feb. 2, 2026, at Howard Brook. He was scheduled to appear in court on July 14, when the matter was adjourned at his lawyer’s request. The court heard a possible resolution was being sought with the Crown.
Chipman man charged
Hunter Michael Kilfillen, 26, of Chipman, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Kilfillen was charged with refusing a breathalyzer and with mischief for interfering with a police camera, in connection with an incident on Jan. 5 in Woodstock. He was scheduled to appear in provincial court with his lawyer on July 14 when a warrant was held on file.
Facing sex charge
Mitchell Michael Diamond, 21, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on a sex charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Diamond was charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Aug. 9, 2025, in Woodstock. He appeared in court on July 14 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Lincoln woman charged
Emily Grace Meadows, 24, of Lincoln, will appear for trial in provincial court on Sept. 3, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Meadows was charged with impaired driving and refusing a breathalyzer demand. Her lawyer entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf at a court appearance on July 14.
Plea adjourned
Trevor MacDonald, 52, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 4 at 9:30 a.m. to answer two charges laid by the RCMP. He was scheduled for plea on July 14 when the matter was adjourned to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
MacDonald was charged with flight from police and dangerous driving in connection with an incident on Feb. 27 in Meductic.
Trial on five charges
Jill Smith, 37, of Fielding, will appear for trial in provincial court on Sept. 20, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. and on Sept. 23-24, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to five charges laid by the RCMP. A pre-trial conference was booked for June 30, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Smith was charged with fraud over $5,000, forgery, identity theft, fraudulent impersonation, and possession of stolen mail between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2025, in Florenceville-Bristol. She was also facing more charges in Fredericton. Smith has a prior criminal record.
Released until sentencing
Joshua Sterling Trail, 42, of Hartland, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on July 29 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was released from custody with conditions in May to await sentencing, but the matter was postponed on Tuesday at the request of Defence Counsel Alex Carleton.
Trail pleaded guilty to unlawful entry at a dwelling house on Charlotte Street and committing mischief while on the property in connection with an incident between Sept. 6 and Sept. 7, 2024, in Woodstock. Several other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
A co-accused, Dynielle Allison Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on July 14 for a monitoring hearing on similar charges related to the break-in on Charlotte Street. The court heard she intended to plead guilty to five charges, but it allowed her more time to consult legal counsel. Another monitoring hearing was set for July 23 at 9:30 a.m.
At an earlier court appearance, Demerchant pleaded not guilty to possession of stolen property and breach of probation in connection with a separate incident on Sept. 17, 2024, in Woodstock. Her trial will be held on July 23-24, at 9:30 a.m.
Guilty on two charges
Adam Slipp, 36, of Limestone, will appear in provincial court for sentencing on July 15 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP.
Slipp pleaded guilty to assaulting another man while threatening to use a weapon (a bat) and mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle, following an incident on Jan. 22 in Debec. He made his first court appearance on April 14 and pleaded guilty. He had a dated prior criminal record.
Sentence pending
Clay Hargrove, 30, of Beechwood, appeared in provincial court via video in custody for sentencing on July 14 and pleaded guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was rescheduled for July 17 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his lawyer.
Hargrove appeared in court on Jan. 19 after being arrested on a warrant and waived his bail until later. He was charged with failing to attend court and with a probation violation on Jan. 8.
He also pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm to another man and possession of a stolen ATV for an incident on Aug. 27, 2024, at Upper Kent. He also faces charges of resisting arrest and identity fraud. His sentencing on these charges will also take place on July 17 at 9:30 a.m.
In custody in federal prison
Jonathon Daniel Stockford, 36, of Hartland, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody via video from federal prison on July 13 after pleading not guilty to charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police.
Stockford was recently sentenced to four years in prison on charges in Fredericton.
Defence Counsel Alex Pate told the court his client planned to enter guilty pleas on the remaining charges and transfer them to Fredericton.
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.
Stockford was also charged with theft from Brennan’s Home Hardware Store in Woodstock on July 7, 2025.
He pleaded not guilty to possession of a stolen side-by-side in connection with an incident on July 20, 2025, in Waterville, and received a directed verdict of not guilty after the Crown called no evidence.
Hearing on sex charge
Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fielding, will appear for trial in provincial court in custody on July 20 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. A pre-trial hearing was held on July 13.
O’Keefe was charged by the RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton, and failing to report his whereabouts to the national sex offender registry on Jan. 9 in Woodstock.
O’Keefe pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to appear for trial in December. He was remanded, and his sentencing was adjourned until after his trial.
