Quebec man arrested driving in wrong lane, loaded gun in vehicle
It took a spike belt to stop a vehicle from Quebec that was travelling in the wrong lane on the Trans Canada Highway and then fled from police near Woodstock during the early morning hours of Aug. 5.
Frederick Garneau Watson, 42, of Saint Liguori, was arrested by RCMP near Maliseet Fuels at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation) on Aug. 6. He appeared in provincial court in custody by video on charges of dangerous driving, flight from police, assault, and obstruction.
Watson was released with conditions on a $3,500 bail bond and ordered to return to his residence in Quebec. He returns to court for plea in Woodstock on Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Police laid the charges after receiving a report of a vehicle travelling in the wrong lane on Highway 2 around 1:30 a.m. and then spotted it driving erratically in the parking lot at Maliseet Fuels. The vehicle attempted to flee the scene. Police deployed a tire deflation device to stop it. The driver exited the vehicle and was arrested at the scene. Subsequent to his arrest, a loaded handgun was located in the vehicle.
Alleged armed intruder denied bail
Mason Bustard, 18, of Woodstock, appeared in court in custody by video on Aug. 8 for a bail hearing on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was denied bail and remanded for plea on Aug. 20 at 1:30 p.m.
Bustard was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house and two counts of assault on July 27, breach of a release order, possession of prohibited weapons (a sawed-off shotgun and brass knuckles), possession of a firearm without a licence, and possession of a loaded prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence on July 28, and uttering threats and causing injury to an animal (a dog) by kicking it on July 24.
Police made their arrest after spotting a suspect on Houlton Street around noon on July 28. The individual fled on a bicycle into the woods and was pursued by officers on foot. During the chase, the suspect discarded various items, including a sawed-off shotgun, brass knuckles, and a mask, which were retrieved later by an RCMP police dog.
On July 17, Bustard appeared in court in custody on other separate charges and was released with conditions. He was scheduled to return to court for a plea on Aug. 13 at 9:30 a.m., when he was re-arrested.
Woodstock Police charged him with breaking into a garage on Houlton Street, wearing a mask during the commission of an offence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a knife), assault with a weapon, and criminal harassment.
Bustard was arrested after police received a report of an armed intruder who entered a yard on Houlton Street on the morning of July 16 and approached a woman while holding a knife. The man’s face was partially covered with a mask or scarf.
He instructed the woman to go inside her house. She immediately complied and locked the door behind her. The man then went inside her garage before eventually leaving the area.
Centreville man guilty after trial
Jared Oakes, 42, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 9 for a verdict following his trial on an impaired driving charge. He was found guilty and fined $2,000. Oakes was also sentenced to 30 days of house arrest and was prohibited from driving for one year.
He was charged by RCMP in connection with an incident on March 9, 2023, at Weston. The charge was laid after a man was found passed out in a truck in a private driveway around 5 p.m. The individual was slumped over behind the wheel with the vehicle still running. It took several minutes for police to wake him up and make their arrest. A breathalyzer demand measured his blood alcohol level at three times the legal limit.
Sentencing pending for assault with torch
Dustin Robert Davenport, 40, of Aroostook, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8 for his trial on multiple charges laid by RCMP. He changed his plea to guilty on several charges, and a sentencing date was set for Aug. 26 at 1:30 p.m.
Davenport appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Jan. 4 and was denied bail. He was charged by RCMP with aggravated assault involving a female victim, uttering threats, unlawful confinement, possession of a prohibited weapon (a handheld torch), and breach of probation for an incident on Dec. 12, 2023, near Perth Andover when a woman was seriously burned during a domestic dispute.
Davenport pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of indictable assault causing bodily harm, uttering threats, and breach of probation. The crown withdrew the remaining two charges.
The court heard Davenport used a handheld torch to burn the victim on her back and then physically assaulted her. She was punched and kicked and suffered two black eyes, cuts and bruises in addition to the burn wounds on her back.
Davenport was also charged with uttering threats, breach of probation, breaching a no-contact order, assault involving another female victim, and forcible entry at a dwelling house in connection with a separate incident on Sept. 4, 2023, at Carlingford.
He pleaded guilty to the assault, breach of probation, and breaching a no-contact order and the remaining two charges were withdrawn by the crown. The court heard he was inside a residence when he jammed the victim with a door.
Davenport was also charged with dangerous driving for an incident on Oct. 13, 2023, at Perth-Andover when a man was allegedly dragged by a moving vehicle. The crown will withdraw this charge at his sentencing.
Denied bail and remanded
Nathan Aaron Sewell, 36, of Wilmot, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 8 for a bail hearing on a charge of breaching his release order. He was denied bail and remanded to jail to await his trial.
RCMP charged Sewell with violating electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) following an incident on Aug. 1 at Wilmot. He pleaded not guilty.
Sewell also appeared in provincial court on April 30 and pleaded not guilty to other charges laid by the RCMP. His two-day trial was set for May 15-16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. The court heard this trial date will have to be moved up because the accused was remanded on the new charge.
Sewell was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of cocaine, both for the purpose of trafficking, and three counts of possession of stolen property (an ID card, registration and mail) concerning an incident on Feb. 15 at Bairdsville.
He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 17 and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Sewell has a prior criminal record.
Returning for plea
Brock Price, 44, of Carlingford, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Price was charged with uttering threats and criminal harassment in connection with an incident on Aug. 19, 2023, at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). He made his first court appearance on Aug. 6 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Woodstock woman charged
Theresa Dorvil, 47, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 3 at 9:30 a.m. to answer an impaired driving charge.
Woodstock Police charged Dorvil following an incident on May 6 in Woodstock. She made her first court appearance on Aug. 6 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Fined for impaired driving
Lisa Kinney, 54, of Woodstock, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 7 after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge laid by RCMP. She was found guilty after trial and received a $2,600 fine.
Kinney was charged following an incident on June 25, 2023, near Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). In addition to the fine, she was prohibited from driving for one year.
Neqotkuk man fined $1,500
Kashius Kenneth Francis, 21, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 9 and pleaded guilty to one charge laid by RCMP.
Francis was charged with dangerous driving and fleeing police following an incident on Jan. 28 at Richmond Corner. He pleaded guilty to fleeing police and received a $1,500 fine. The crown withdrew the remaining charge.
The court heard police spotted a vehicle speeding on Route 555 around midnight. The driver fled, and shortly after, police located the vehicle off the road, surrounded by a group of people standing nearby. Francis admitted to being the driver; the rest were his passengers who had encouraged him to flee. He had no prior record.
Held for bail hearing
Brian Vrieze, 53, of Debec, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 8 for a bail hearing. He was arrested on two warrants for failing to appear in court to answer charges. His bail hearing was adjourned until Aug. 14 at 1:30 p.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Brian Vrieze and Tyler Vrieze, 29, of Debec, were each charged by Woodstock Police with possessing stolen property (an ATV).
The charges were laid in connection with an incident in Woodstock on July 27, 2023. Tyler Vrieze pleaded not guilty on April 9; his trial date was set for April 30, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Brian Vrieze failed to appear in court for plea, and a second warrant for his arrest was issued. The court also issued an earlier arrest warrant when he failed to appear for trial on Nov. 6, 2023. The court heard he was in the hospital at that time.
Vrieze pleaded not guilty in December to possessing a firearm without a license, a Savage 223 rifle, concerning a Nov. 18, 2021, incident at Limestone and not guilty to possessing methamphetamine on April 24, 2021, in Woodstock.
Released with conditions
Brycen Trae Stewart, 28, of Lakeville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 8 for a bail hearing on charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Sept. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Stewart was arrested on the New Brunswick Day weekend. He was charged with breaking into a dwelling house on May 25 in Killoween and possessing a stolen vehicle on Aug. 4, 2023, in Lakeville.
Arrested and released
Logan Estey, 18, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8 on two charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Sept. 10 at 9:30 a.m.
Estey was charged with two counts of breaching a no-contact order concerning an incident on Aug. 3 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no further contact with the complainant.
In custody to await bail hearing
Erica Ann Trecartin, 28, of Lower Brighton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 8 after being arrested on a warrant in St. Stephen. Her bail hearing was adjourned until Aug. 22 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
RCMP charged Trecartin with failing to appear in court on June 24 and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking concerning an incident in Grafton on Jan. 29. The court heard numerous other charges are also pending.
A co-accused, Ronald McLaughlin, 33, of St. Stephen, appeared for sentencing in provincial court in custody via teleconference on July 16 after pleading guilty to five charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing was adjourned until Aug. 12 at 1:30 p.m.
McLaughlin appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 30. The RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance following an incident on Jan. 29 in Grafton. The court heard he was being held in custody on other charges in Saint John.
On April 12, McLaughlin was also charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the same incident in Grafton. On May 2, an additional charge was laid for failing to appear in court on March 5.
In custody on multiple charges
Austin Aube, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 8 for a bail hearing on multiple charges laid by RCMP. His bail hearing was adjourned until Aug. 29 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
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; driving while suspended and flight from police on July 12 at Neqotkuk; assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a female victim, assault by choking, and resisting arrest on May 8 at Neqotkuk. He was arrested on a warrant.
Assault trial to continue
Jerod Nowlan, 40, of Rosedale, appeared for trial in provincial court this week
on an assault charge. A full day of crown testimony was held on Aug. 8 before Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean, while the defence began its case on Aug. 9. The trial will continue on Sept. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
Nowlan was charged by RCMP with assault on a female minor in connection with an incident between April 1 and April 30, 2023, in Coldstream. He pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the alleged victim testified she was grabbed by the neck, choked by the accused, and then fell to the pavement.
At an earlier court appearance, Nowlan was charged with possession of a firearm without a licence (a rifle), improper storage of a firearm, and possession of a gun with the serial number altered concerning another separate incident on July 27, 2023, at Rosedale. He pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for Sept. 5-6 at 9:30 a.m.
Jacksonville man changes plea on charges
Shayne Everett Cameron, 30, of Jacksonville, appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 7 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. His sentencing was set for Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m.
Cameron pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun) for an incident on Jan. 24, 2023, at Juniper. A second charge of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace will be withdrawn at sentencing. The crown also agreed to withdraw another charge of possessing a stolen vehicle in Woodstock on April 11, 2023.
Cameron appeared in provincial court in custody on April 25 for a bail hearing and was denied bail.
Woodstock Police charged him with two counts of assaulting police with a weapon (a knife), robbery, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, possession of a stolen vehicle, theft of mail, uttering threats, assault with a weapon; flight from police, dangerous driving, resisting arrest, and breach of a release order for an incident on Jan. 22.
On Aug. 7, Cameron pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, assaulting police, assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), flight from police and dangerous driving. The remaining charges will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing.
Woodstock Police laid the charges after locating a man in the passenger seat of a vehicle at a business on Connell Street. The man threatened the driver with a weapon, attempting to encourage the driver to flee. Police gained entry to the vehicle and tried to remove the man when he grabbed a knife and attempted to stab the officers.
Two officers sustained minor injuries in the incident. The driver then exited the vehicle, and the man got into the driver’s seat and fled the scene. A short time later, the vehicle was located in Perth-Andover by RCMP. A police dog located the individual, and he was arrested without incident.
Cameron appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 23 after being arrested the day before on five warrants. He has been in custody since that time.
He appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 8, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court on Oct. 31, 2023. He pleaded guilty and will be sentenced when he returns to court on Aug. 28.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching a release order (curfew) in Woodstock on Nov. 16, 2023. His sentencing on this charge will also take place on Aug. 28. The crown withdrew a charge of breach of an undertaking on Sept. 28, 2023.
Cameron was also charged with uttering threats and assaulting another man on Oct. 28, 2023, at Greenfield. He pleaded not guilty.
He was also charged with breach of a no-contact order and resisting police on Nov. 4, 2023, at Perth-Andover. He pleaded guilty to the breach and not guilty to resisting arrest.
Cameron was also charged with assaulting a female victim, assault with a weapon (a machete) and uttering threats for incidents between Sept. 8 and Sept. 13, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded not guilty.
On Aug. 7, he agreed to sign peace bonds for the last three incidents and a trial on these matters did not proceed.
Resolution sought for Armour
Brandon Cecil Armour, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 6 for monitoring about his upcoming trial on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 13 at 11 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Armour is also scheduled to appear for sentencing on Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Woodstock Police charged Armour with prowling at night and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on March 24, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty on May 1.
The court heard that a resolution on other matters set for trial in September may be forthcoming. Armour waived his bail until later.
He was also charged with breach of an undertaking, failing to attend court on July 11, 2023, and theft of a vehicle and resisting arrest on Aug. 14, 2023. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP also charged Armour with breaching a release order following incidents on Jan. 7 and Feb. 6 near Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 9 for a bail hearing and waived his bail until later. On March 13, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching his release order and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Armour appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 11 and was sentenced to one year in jail, minus time served, after pleading guilty to another charge. He was also placed on probation for 12 months.
Armour was charged by RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and assaulting a female victim, stemming from an incident on June 8, 2022, in Beechwood. He pleaded guilty to breaking into the dwelling, and the crown withdrew the two remaining charges.
Armour appeared in court in custody on Aug. 15, 2023, after being arrested on a warrant. He appeared on Sept. 28, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions but was brought back into custody.
Trial adjourned for Neqotkuk woman
Nicole Perley, 39, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Aug. 9 after pleading not guilty to two charges. The trial was adjourned to Dec. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Perley was charged by RCMP with break and enter at a dwelling house and assault involving another woman in connection with an incident on June 2, 2023, at Neqotkuk. She entered her not-guilty plea at a court appearance on Sept. 19. 2023. She was released on an undertaking and ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Jointly charged in violent kidnapping
Sheena Sappier, 36, Keagan Paul, 32, and Ashley Paul, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Aug. 9 jointly charged in relation to an alleged kidnapping with violence in the community in April.
Ashley Paul appeared in custody by video after being denied bail on June 27. All three accused pleaded not guilty to a series of charges, and their five-day trial was scheduled for June 23-25, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. and July 28-29, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Sheena Sappier and Ashley Paul were each charged with kidnapping a female victim, unlawful confinement, attempting to obstruct justice by disposing of evidence, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Keagan Paul was charged with unlawful confinement, using a handgun to kidnap a female victim and being an occupant of a vehicle, knowing it carried a firearm.
Preston Sockabasin, 27, Adam Perley, 33, and Jacob Perley, 34, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court on July 16 for plea on multiple charges stemming from the same incident.
RCMP jointly charged them with forcible confinement by choking and suffocation, unlawful confinement, administering a noxious substance, using a handgun to kidnap a female victim, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, assault causing bodily harm, and extortion with violence to obtain $10,000. The matter was adjourned for plea until Aug. 20 at 11 a.m.
Both Adam Perley and Jacob Perley remain in custody. Adam Perley was denied bail on May 30.
Jacob Perley was also charged with pointing a firearm at a female victim, possession of a restricted weapon (a handgun), and obstructing a police officer.
He was also charged with breaching a conditional sentence order (house arrest). He appeared in court in custody by video on June 3 and was remanded to complete the rest of his sentence (317 days) behind bars.
On June 18, Jacob Perley was also ordered to serve another 27 days in jail for defaulting on a $1,200 fine for suspended driving. He will also stand trial in January on fraud charges.
Preston Sockabasin is also facing a charge of possession of a firearm without a licence and charges of dangerous driving and flight from police for a separate incident on May 7 at Neqotkuk.
Troy Pelkey, 56, of Tilley, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 and pleaded not guilty to charges related to the alleged kidnapping. His three-day trial was set for Sept. 11-13 at 9:30 a.m. Pelkey was denied bail on May 10.
On July 16, the court heard the crown intends to apply to jointly charge Pelkey with the same offences as Adam Perley, Jacob Perley, and Preston Sockabasin. The crown will bring the matter forward on Aug. 20 at 11 a.m.
Ashley Paul also pleaded guilty on July 18 to several other separate charges. Her sentencing date was set for Aug. 23 at 10 a.m.
She pleaded guilty to uttering a forged document ($2,000) and fraud for an incident on Oct. 10, 2023, at Perth Andover. The crown withdrew two other charges of possession of stolen cheques and breach of probation.
She agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond in relation to other charges of unlawful entry at a dwelling house and breach of probation on Feb. 14 at Neqotkuk.
She pleaded guilty to assaulting another woman on March 2 at Perth-Andover, while the crown withdrew another charge of breach of probation. She also pleaded guilty to obstructing police on April 11 at Neqotkuk and guilty to failing to appear in court on March 19. Paul has a limited prior criminal record.
Keagan Paul and Preston Sockabasin appeared in provincial court in custody on June 6 for their bail hearings, which were conducted via video.
They were released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to their ankles. They must also follow a curfew and undergo a 90-day drug rehabilitation program in their community.
Both men were ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs, and they were prohibited from possessing firearms. Paul and Sockabasin were also ordered to have no contact with the victim or any of the five others charged in the crime.
Sappier appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 31 for her bail hearing and was released with conditions, including a curfew and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle. She must also enter a drug rehab program in her community.
On Aug. 9, the court heard Sappier was being charged with breaching her curfew on July 27. She returns to court for plea on that matter on Aug. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
The victim, a 54-year-old woman from Florenceville-Bristol, was kidnapped at gunpoint, held against her will for two days, assaulted, and administered a noxious substance with intent to extort $10,000. She was treated at a hospital with significant but non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
A total of 62 charges were laid, including using a handgun to kidnap a female victim, extortion, uttering threats, assault, assault causing bodily harm, administering a noxious substance, forcible confinement using a choke hold, plastic bag and tape, possession of a prohibited firearm, pointing a firearm, careless use of a firearm, resisting arrest, unlawful confinement, theft of a motor vehicle, obstructing justice by disposing of evidence, and possession of a firearm without a licence.
The RCMP police dog service and air services assisted with the kidnapping investigation and arrests of the seven individuals charged. Police say the investigation is ongoing. A search warrant was executed at a residence at Neqotkuk on May 6.
