Arthurette man sentenced to federal prison time
Johnny Lee Bloodsworth, 41, of Arthurette, was sentenced to seven years and one month in federal prison when he appeared in provincial court in custody via video on June 18 on multiple sex charges and one count of uttering threats laid by the RCMP.
Judge Karen Lee also ordered him to register with the federal DNA database and the national sex offender registry for 20 years. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms and was ordered to have no contact with the two complainants in the case. The evidence about Bloodsworth’s sex crimes remains under a publication ban.
“Committing sexual crimes against a minor comes with severe penalties,” Judge Lee told the court. “It causes profound harm to a victim and has a far-reaching impact. It can permanently alter lives. The court must impose severe sanctions.”
Bloodsworth showed no emotion upon hearing his hefty sentence. At one point during the hearing, he yawned loudly and told the judge he just woke up for his court appearance.
“Are we boring you, Mr. Bloodsworth?” Judge Lee asked the accused.
Lee found Bloodsworth guilty after trial on four counts of sexual assault and four counts of touching a female minor for a sexual purpose in connection with incidents between July 10, 2023 and Sept. 4, 2023.
Bloodsworth was sentenced on the four counts of touching a female minor for a sexual purpose. His conviction on the four counts of sexual assault was stayed under a legal rule preventing multiple convictions for the same criminal act.
Judge Lee noted four other charges were withdrawn by the Crown before the trial. She remanded Bloodsworth to jail on Feb. 18, and as a result he had a remand credit of 182 days which will be applied to his sentence. He denied the allegations against him throughout the court proceedings.
The judge found him not guilty of sexual assault and touching a female minor for a sexual purpose, but guilty of uttering threats between April 1, 2023 and Sept. 1, 2023. Four other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Bloodsworth’s lengthy trial concluded in December. He appeared in provincial court via video in custody on June 25, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released to await trial. Bloodsworth had no prior criminal record.
He pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of breaching his release order. His trial was set for July 2 at 9:30 a.m. Bloodsworth was charged by RCMP in connection with an incident between Jan. 31 and May 30, 2025, in Arthurette.
120 days or time served
Logan James Estey, 21, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on June 12 after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP and Woodstock Police. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail or time served and placed on 18 months of probation.
Estey was released from custody on April 7 to await sentencing. He pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching his release order in September and June of 2025 and mischief causing property damage to a window for an incident on Jan. 1, 2024, in Upper Woodstock.
Estey also pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and assault with a weapon (a car) for an incident on July 24, 2024, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
He was charged by the Woodstock Police with two counts of violating a no-contact order in connection with an incident on Aug. 3, 2024, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty and was ordered to have no further contact with the female complainant. Three other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Not guilty verdict
Kevin Smith, 48, of Hartley Settlement, was found not guilty after trial when he appeared in provincial court on June 18 for a verdict on three charges laid by RCMP.
Smith pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault and uttering threats concerning an incident on July 22, 2025, at Juniper.
Judge Rose Campbell said the Crown had conceded it did not prove the case against the accused during his trial on May 15. Defence Counsel was Alex Carleton.
Committed to stand trial
Patrick Harris, 40, of Hartland, and Tamara Hamilton, 30, of Woodstock, were both committed to stand trial at the Court of King’s Bench when they appeared in provincial court on June 18 for a decision on their preliminary hearing.
Judge Karen Lee ruled there was enough evidence to send the pair to trial and advised them a trial date would be set at the next Motion’s Day in August.
They pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 15, 2025. The pair elected trial by judge alone at the higher court.
Harris appeared in court in custody via video on March 19, 2025, for his bail hearing and was released on conditions. Hamilton was released from custody on Feb. 20, 2025, with conditions.
Harris was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present; possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence, wearing a mask with intent to commit an offence; uttering threats against another man, pointing a firearm at another person, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and being an occupant of a vehicle (a half ton truck) knowing it carried a firearm.
Hamilton was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm.
The pair was arrested by RCMP inside a garage in Pembroke after a blue half-ton truck was spotted leaving the scene of the shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 15, 2025.
Jacksonville man pleads guilty
Timothy Brian Wheelan, 39, of Jacksonville, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on June 18 and changed his plea to guilty on four charges laid by RCMP.
Wheelan pleaded guilty to breaching his curfew on Sept. 23, 2025, at Carlingford; to breach of an undertaking (no weapons); to possession of a stolen utility trailer; and to resisting arrest on Nov. 17, 2025, at Meductic. Three more charges were withdrawn by the Crown. A date for his sentencing will be set on July 10.
Wheelan was denied bail on Nov. 20, 2025, and remains in custody. He has another trial set for July 10 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a threat charge from April 10, 2025, and two threat charges and breach of a peace bond on Aug. 12, 2025, in Woodstock. The court heard another resolution is being sought with the Crown.
Wheelan and co-accused, Samuel Robert Crewe, 31, will appear for trial in provincial court later this summer after pleading not guilty to drug and gun charges laid by local police. Their trial dates were set for July 27 at 9:30 a.m., Aug. 10 and Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m., and Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m. A pre-trial conference was booked for Aug. 7.
The RCMP charged the two men with 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.
Wheelan also pleaded not guilty to 42 related gun charges laid by Woodstock Police. Crewe pleaded not guilty to 13 gun charges related to the same incident in June 2025.
Crewe was sentenced to three years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Jan. 26. He pleaded guilty to a raft of drug and theft charges, as well as driving offences, laid by Woodstock Police and the RCMP. He had a prior criminal record.
Sentencing in July
Jacob Richard Sewell, 34, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court on June 12 for a fitness hearing after completing a 20-day mental health assessment at the Restigouche hospital.
Sewell was found fit according to a medical report and was ordered to return to court for sentencing on July 8 at 9:30 a.m. He changed his plea to guilty on a drug trafficking charge laid by the RCMP.
Sewell was charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine in connection with incidents on April 24 and May 2, 2025, in Woodstock. The court heard Sewell was caught selling cocaine to an undercover police officer during two incidents. With the consent of the Crown, the two counts were rolled into one trafficking charge.
Sentencing for Grafton incident
Lacy Ann McClendon of Perth-Andover will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Sept. 22 at 1:30 p.m. after changing her plea to guilty on three charges laid by RCMP.
On Thursday, McClendon pleaded guilty to flight from police, dangerous driving, and driving while suspended in connection with an incident on Jan. 31, 2025, in Grafton. One other charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
Trial verdict
Brandon Coté, 30, of no fixed address, was found not guilty on one firearm charge following his trial in provincial court on June 12.
He pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump-action shotgun), breach of probation, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it in connection with the same incident on Feb. 16 in Florenceville-Bristol.
Coté was found not guilty after trial on the first charge,, and the Crown withdrew the three remaining charges.
On June 16, he appeared in provincial court via video in custody and was sentenced to 10 months in jail, minus time served, after pleading guilty to two other charges. He will have four months left to serve once his remand time is applied.
He pleaded guilty to flight from police and dangerous driving concerning an incident on Feb. 16 in Florenceville-Bristol when a spike belt was used to stop a vehicle. Coté was also prohibited from driving for three years. He had a prior criminal record and was denied bail when he appeared in provincial court via video in custody on Feb. 26.
Trial continues
Cindy Demerchant, 53, of Lower Kintore, will appear in provincial court on June 19 at 9:30 a.m. for the continuation of her trial on a theft charge.
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 Demerchant was an employee who allegedly entered the premises after hours.
Refusing a breathalyzer
Lindsay Harris, 22, of Waterville, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 19 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to a breathalyzer charge.
Harris was charged by Woodstock Police with refusing a breathalyzer in connection with an incident on Dec. 29, 2024, in Lower Woodstock.
Woodstock woman on trial
Bianca Laqua, 35, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 19 at 1:30 p.m. after pleading not guilty to one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Laqua was charged with refusing a breathalyzer in connection with an incident on Sept. 21, 2024, in Woodstock. Her trial was first set for December but was rescheduled to allow her more time to seek legal counsel.
