Police bust leads to trafficking charges
Larry Shane Kennedy, 50, of Kirkland, and Joshua Sterling Trail, 41, of Benton, appeared in provincial court on March 13 to face drug trafficking charges related to a police bust in Kirkland on Feb. 16.
Kennedy and Trail were each charged with possession of cocaine and possession of methamphetamine, both for the purpose of trafficking. Trail appeared in court in custody by video. The two men return to court for plea on April 3 at 9:30 a.m.
On Feb. 18, Kennedy and Trail appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on indictable robbery charges laid by RCMP. Kennedy was released with conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Trail waived his bail until later and was remanded to jail.
They were each charged with indictable robbery of a motor vehicle on Feb. 5 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), illegal possession of a firearm (a Russian SKS semi-automatic rifle), and improper storage of a gun on Feb. 16 at Kirkland. Trail was also charged with fraudulent impersonation at Richmond Corner on Dec. 9, 2024.
On March 11, Trail appeared in provincial court in custody by video to answer more charges laid by Woodstock Police. That matter was adjourned for plea until April 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Trail was charged with breaking into a dwelling house on Charlotte Street to commit mischief, unlawful entry for the purpose of committing an offence, possession of break-in tools, possession of a stolen Blue Cross card, mischief causing property damage to a door, interfering with the lawful use of property, and illegal possession of methamphetamine for an incident between Sept. 6-7, 2024, in Woodstock.
A co-accused, Dynielle Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on March 13 to answer the same list of charges for the alleged break-in on Charlotte Street. She was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on April 3 at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant is also scheduled to appear in provincial court for plea on March 18 at 9:30 a.m. on other separate charges of possession of stolen property and breach of probation concerning an incident on Sept. 17, 2024, in Woodstock.
Arrested and released
Grant Rediker of Oakland appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on March 13 and was released with conditions. He returns to court for plea on April 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Rediker was charged by RCMP with assault with a weapon (a vehicle), possession of ammunition while prohibited, possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence, careless use of a firearm, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun, break and enter at a garage, and illegal possession of methamphetamine. The charges were laid in connection with an incident involving a female victim on March 12 in Oakland.
Released with ankle bracelet
Benjamin Greer, 27, of Weston, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing on sex charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. Greer returns to court for plea on April 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Greer was charged with sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose, making sexually explicit material available to a minor, invitation to sexual touching, accessing child pornography, and using a computer system to facilitate an offence in connection with incidents between Aug. 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, at Teeds Mill. He also faces an additional charge of uttering threats to a female victim.
Greer was ordered to have no contact with the complainants as part of his release. He was placed under house arrest with permission to attend work.
Released with conditions
William (Billy) Harding, 35, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on March 13. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on April 1 at 9:30 a.m.
Harding will be residing at a residence in Perth-Andover. He appeared in provincial court in custody on March 6 after being arrested on a warrant. He was in custody by video on Feb. 10 and was released with conditions but failed to return to court for plea on March 4.
Harding was charged by Woodstock Police with theft from the Superstore and breach of probation following an incident on Sept. 10, 2024, in Woodstock. He was also charged with theft of a laptop in Perth-Andover on March 12, 2024, breach of probation on March 20, 2024, and breach of probation by failing to report between Dec. 12, 2023, and Sept. 3, 2024. He has a prior criminal record.
Conditional discharge, probation
Braxton Denny, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court for sentencing on March 11 after changing his plea to guilty on two charges laid by RCMP. He received a conditional discharge and was placed on 24 months of probation. Denny must also complete 100 hours of community service work.
He pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property and fleeing police on July 22, 2023, in Jacksonville. Two counts of failing to appear in court on Oct. 17 and Oct. 24, 2023, were withdrawn by the crown.
Denny was also charged by Woodstock Police with assault, committing mischief by damaging a TV, and breach of a release order by failing to abstain from drugs between May 1 and June 6, 2024, in Woodstock; and assaulting a woman, assault by choking, two counts of uttering threats, committing mischief by damaging a mirror and a door, and breach of a release order by failing to abstain from drugs for another incident between June 6-7, 2024, in Woodstock.
He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Sept. 11-12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Denny appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 17, 2024, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Not guilty of sexual assault
Maurice Joseph Rossignol, 68, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on March 12 for a verdict following his trial for sexual assault. Judge Sebastian Michaud found him not guilty.
Rossignol appeared for trial in provincial court on Oct. 23, 2024, after pleading not guilty to sexual assault. Woodstock Police charged him in connection with an incident on Aug. 30, 2023, in Woodstock. He denied the allegations during the trial.
Fined $1,000 and probation
Tina Noella Albert, 53, of Upper Kintore, appeared in provincial court on March 12 for sentencing on two charges laid by RCMP. She was fined $1,000 and placed on probation for 12 months.
Judge Sebastian Michaud found her guilty after trial on a charge of uttering threats and guilty of assaulting a police officer, but not guilty of resisting arrest.
Albert was charged following an incident on Oct. 4, 2022, at the Ultramar gas station in Carlingford when she was involved in an altercation with a female police officer.
During the trial, the court heard Albert cursed at the officer, threatened to knock her teeth out, and pushed the door of a police cruiser against the officer’s foot. Video surveillance from the gas station was entered into evidence by the crown.
Albert told the court she had appealed her conviction and was also pursuing private prosecution against the police officer for alleged perjury. She also informed the court that the police officer had been transferred from Perth-Andover to Nackawic as a result of the case.
In passing sentence, Judge Michaud noted Albert’s history with the police officer involved. During the incident at the gas station, Albert was reckless toward the officer’s authority, the judge said. Still, he ruled her offences were at the low end of the scale for criminality. The police officer was not injured. Albert had a dated prior criminal record. Judge Michaud recommended she seek counselling as required during her probationary period.
Awaiting trial in Edmundston
Andrew St. Peter, 32, of Plaster Rock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 for a bail hearing on two charges laid by RCMP. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on April 8 at 1:30 p.m.
St. Peter was charged with two counts of breaching a release order by failing to report to police between Jan. 1 and March 11 at Weaver. The court also heard he is awaiting trial in Edmundston on June 2 after pleading not guilty to a charge of possessing a weapon dangerous to the public peace.
In custody awaiting plea
Jacob Alexander Roy, 27, of Windsor, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on March 13 to answer charges laid by RCMP. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on March 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Roy was charged with breaching a release order by violating the conditions of his house arrest (ankle bracelet) following an incident on Feb. 8 at Coldstream. He has been in custody since his arrest.
Roy was also charged by Woodstock Police with possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, both for the purpose of trafficking, breach of a release order, carrying a concealed weapon, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, concerning an incident in Woodstock on Aug. 3, 2024. The crown withdrew another charge of possessing a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles).
Moved to alternative measures
Cassandra Watson Sawyer, 25, of Perth-Andover, appeared for trial in provincial court on March 12 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by RCMP. The matter was diverted to the alternative measures program with the consent of the crown, and the trial was cancelled.
Watson Sawyer was charged with fraud and possession of stolen property (a bank card) concerning an incident on July 18, 2023, at Plaster Rock. She has until June 17 at 1:30 p.m. to complete the requirements of the program in order to have the charge withdrawn.
Warrant issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Ashley Dawn Giberson, 34, of Woodstock, after she failed to appear for trial in provincial court on March 12.
Giberson pleaded not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. She was charged with two counts of breaching a release order by failing to follow a curfew and shoplifting at the Canadian Tire in Woodstock on Feb. 3, 2024.
She appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 27, 2024, and was released with conditions.
Johnville man awaits sentencing
Ryan Troy O’Donnell, 27, of Johnville, will appear in provincial court in custody for sentencing on two charges on March 14 at 1:30 p.m.
O’Donnell was denied bail on Jan. 9. RCMP charged him with possession of stolen property (cheques) on Dec. 16, 2023, in Beechwood, and mischief causing property damage on Feb. 15, 2024. He changed his plea to guilty.
O’Donnell pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in connection with an incident in Beechwood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30, 2021. He was found not guilty after trial on March 5. O’Donnell has a prior criminal record.
