Hatto sentenced to over three years in prison
Vinal Todd Hatto, 38, of Woodstock, was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison, minus time served, when he appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Nov. 30. Hatto pleaded guilty to multiple charges laid by Woodstock Police and Fredericton City Police.
Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean ordered Hatto to undergo counselling for drug addiction during his incarceration. He must also register with the federal DNA database. The judge imposed a lifetime ban on firearms and a four-year driving prohibition.
Hatto has been in custody since his arrest in September of 2022. He had a lengthy prior criminal record that spanned six pages. In the past, he spent time in a federal prison.
“He has many convictions, none to date have deterred him from re-offending,” Judge McLean stated. “He is actually re-offending while on conditions.”
In reviewing the evidence, Judge McLean told the court the long list of charges against Hatto was “yet another example of meth, guns and dangerous driving.”
“The risk to the public is immense,” said McLean.
The judge said Hatto deserved a federal prison term for his “dangerous and criminal behaviour,” including carrying drugs and a handgun in a vehicle, fleeing from police at speeds up to 185 km kilometres per hour, ramming a police car in Fredericton, and “repeatedly thumbing his nose” at the authorities while on a release order.
Hatto pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, breach of probation, and possession of a handgun while prohibited concerning an incident on April 4, 2022, near Woodstock First Nation. The charges were laid after police stopped his vehicle during a roadside check.
Hatto also pleaded guilty to flight from police, dangerous driving, and breach of probation on May 11, 2022; guilty to breach of a release order on Aug. 9, 2022; guilty to breach of an undertaking, breaching curfew, and breach of probation on June 29, 2022; guilty to possession of stolen property (cheques) on June 30, 2022; guilty to breaching curfew on Aug. 4, 2022; and breaching curfew on Aug. 5, 2022.
Other charges of flight from police and assaulting a police officer on May 2, 2022, were withdrawn by the crown. Hatto was denied bail and remanded to jail following his bail hearing. He was arrested on a warrant after he failed to appear in provincial court, taken into custody, and charged with breach of a release order.
Hatto also pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police with a weapon (a vehicle), resisting arrest, dangerous driving, driving while suspended and flight from police on Sept. 19, 2022, in Fredericton, and assaulting police with a weapon (a vehicle), driving while prohibited, and indictable possession of morphine pills, cash, and methamphetamine for another incident in Fredericton on Sept. 26, 2022.
Conditional sentence for assault, mischief
Garett Andrew Bright, 33, of Greenfield, received a four-month conditional sentence on Nov. 30 after pleading guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. He was also placed on two years of probation and was fined $400.
Bright pleaded guilty to assault involving a female victim on April 12, 2022, in Greenfield; guilty to mischief causing property damage to a car and breach of an undertaking on Oct. 25, 2022, at Beechwood; and guilty to breach of an undertaking between May 13-21, 2022, at Perth-Andover. The crown withdrew another charge of sexual assault.
Bright was ordered to pay $500 in restitution for damaging the car. Associate Chief Judge Brian C. McLean told the accused to follow a curfew during his house arrest. He was prohibited from the use of firearms, alcohol and non-prescription drugs and must not have any contact with the female complainant. The accused had no prior criminal record.
Bright appeared in court in custody in October and was remanded for a bail hearing the next day. He was released from custody with conditions.
During his sentencing hearing, the court heard the charges involved a domestic dispute and that Bright struggles with mental health issues. He had a positive pre-sentence report and works full-time.
Schriver handed 138 days in jail or time served
Brandon Schriver, 22, of no fixed address, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Dec. 1 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. He was sentenced to 138 days in jail or time served.
Schriver was also placed on probation for two years. He was not released from custody, however, since he is still facing a parole violation. When the incident occurred, the court heard Schriver was on parole from federal prison.
Schriver appeared in provincial court in custody on Sept. 1 for a bail hearing and was remanded to jail. RCMP charged him with assaulting another man, assault with a weapon, possession of a firearm without a licence (a pump action shotgun), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, impaired driving, possession of a gun while prohibited, possession of ammunition while prohibited, and breach of probation for an incident on Aug. 30 in Beaconsfield.
On Dec. 1, he pleaded guilty to breach of probation and possession of ammunition while prohibited. Schriver was ordered to seek counselling for drug addiction, and he must register with the federal DNA database. A lifetime ban on firearms and ammunition was also imposed.
The remaining charges were withdrawn after a key trial witness for the crown failed to appear in court. As a result, the court issued an arrest warrant for Alex Hoyt of Perth-Andover.
Schriver had a lengthy prior criminal record that included two previous convictions for violating a firearm prohibition order. In 2022, he was sentenced to two years in prison for several thefts across Victoria County.
Remanded into custody to await sentencing
Jason Robert Seymour, 47, of no fixed address, will appear in provincial court in custody for sentencing on Jan. 2, 2024, at 1:30 p.m.
Seymour pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine following an incident on Nov. 23 near Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing on Nov. 29 and was remanded to jail. The RCMP laid the charge.
Held in custody for plea
Timothy Grant Davenport, 46, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Nov. 29 and was remanded to jail.
Davenport returns to court in custody for plea on Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged by RCMP with possession of ammunition while prohibited in connection with an incident on Nov. 26 near Lakeville.
Held for bail hearing
Braeden Paul Thornton, 28, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 30 and was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Dec. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Woodstock Police charged Thornton with assault by choking involving a female victim and breach of probation concerning an incident on Nov. 29 in Woodstock. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant.
Trial adjourned on eight charges
Andrew Pelkey, 44, of Plymouth Road, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 30 on eight charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Feb. 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Pelkey appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on March 31. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Pelkey pleaded not guilty to assault with a weapon (a belt, glass bottle and stick), assault by choking, uttering threats, assault, pointing a firearm at another person, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (BB guns and a pellet gun), careless use of a firearm, and willfully causing pain to a dog by shooting it with a pellet gun. The charges were laid in connection with incidents between Feb. 1 and March 21 near Richmond Corner. The alleged threats and assaults involve a female victim.
On Nov. 30, Pelkey was also charged with breaching his release order by violating his curfew following an incident on Sept. 30 in Woodstock. He returns for a plea on that charge on Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m.
Trial set on three sex charges
Ryan Coles, 33, of Drumheller, Alberta, will appear for trial in provincial court on April 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to three sex charges laid by RCMP. He entered his not-guilty plea on Nov. 30 via teleconference.
Coles was charged with touching for a sexual purpose, invitation to sexual touching and sexual assault in connection with an incident on Sept. 2, 2022, in Perth-Andover. A monitoring date for his trial was also set for Jan. 10, 2024, at 9:30 a.m.
Agreed to peace bond
James Langille, 56, of Wicklow, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 29 on an assault charge laid by RCMP. He agreed to sign a six-month peace bond, and his trial did not proceed.
Langille was charged with assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a female victim in relation to an incident on Feb. 22, 2022, in Wicklow.
Sentenced on two charges
Abigail King-Thurber, 24, of Sheffield, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 29 and changed her plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP.
She was sentenced to four days in jail or time served for one offence and received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation on the other. She was also fined $200.
King-Thurber was charged with failing to attend court on March 28 and possessing a stolen vehicle in connection with an incident on Nov. 30, 2022, at East Brighton.
Neqotkuk man to enter plea
Garrison Cane Perley, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on three charges laid by RCMP.
Perley was charged with assault involving a female victim, assault by choking, and assault with a weapon (a knife) in connection with an incident on Oct. 14 near Perth-Andover. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 21, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged with breathalyzer offence
Jeremy Andrew Anderson, 33, of Richmond Corner, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 19 at 9:30 a.m. to answer a breathalyzer charge.
RCMP charged Anderson with refusing a breathalyzer demand following an incident on July 1 near Centreville. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 28, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Returning to court for plea
Ciji Ann Perley, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear in provincial court on Jan. 19, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. for plea on an assault charge.
RCMP charged Perley with criminal negligence causing bodily harm concerning an incident on July 1 at Neqotkuk. She made her first court appearance on Nov. 28 and told the court she now lives in Montreal.
