Trial begins Monday for RCMP officer charged with assault
A three-day trial begins on Monday for a Woodstock RCMP officer charged with assaulting a local woman during an arrest in 2024.
Cpl. Andrew Whiteway will stand trial by a judge alone at the Court of King’s Bench from Jan. 12-15 at 9:30 a.m. He pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault for allegedly striking a woman in the face during an arrest in Richmond Corner on June 13, 2024. Defence Counsel T.J. Burke is representing the accused.
At the time of the incident, police were called to a family disturbance at a residence in Richmond Corner when a female individual suffered serious injuries during an altercation. The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), responsible for investigating matters involving police officers in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, investigated the incident and laid the charge.
Whiteway was temporarily reassigned to administrative duties until the case is resolved. When the charge was filed, SIRT director Erin Nauss said the investigative team had reasonable and probable grounds to believe that an RCMP officer had committed a criminal offence.
Plea on attempted murder charge
Destiny Dawn Innis, 23, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a charge of attempted murder.
Innis was charged by Woodstock Police following a violent altercation at a downtown residence on Oct. 20, 2024, when a 74-year-old woman was assaulted and stabbed in her home.
Following a bail hearing, Innis was released from custody under house arrest at a residence at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). She was required to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle and must have no contact with the victim. She had no prior criminal record.
The victim was transported to the Upper River Valley Hospital and later transferred to the Saint John Regional Hospital with serious injuries. Woodstock Police, the Woodstock Fire Department and Ambulance New Brunswick were called to her home on Houlton Street around 9 p.m.
Released until sentencing
Loic Boulay, 22, of Oromocto, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m. after changing his plea to guilty on several charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Boulay appeared in provincial court in December, in custody via video, and was released on conditions until his sentencing.
He pleaded guilty to breaching an undertaking (no-contact) and assault involving a female victim between July 4 and July 15, 2025, near Northampton and Woodstock. He also pleaded guilty to uttering threats on July 15, 2025, in Northampton. Two other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
In addition, Boulay pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order and unlawful entry at a dwelling house on St. John Street on May 25, 2025, in Woodstock. Another charge of mischief was withdrawn by the crown. He had no prior criminal record. Boulay was denied bail on July 28, 2025.
Suspended sentence, probation
Michael James Watson, 31, of Bath, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Jan. 8. He changed his plea to guilty on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Watson pleaded guilty to mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle and dangerous driving on Nov. 5, 2023, in Bath. He had a prior criminal record.
Judge Karen Lee ordered him to seek counselling for anger management. He was also fined $292.50 for an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act.
Charged with assault
Kenneth Lake, 39, of Lansdowne, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 3 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge laid by the RCMP.
Lake was charged with assaulting a female victim concerning an incident on Nov. 28, 2025, in Lansdowne. He made his first court appearance on Jan. 6 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Nabbed for impaired
Maria Vanheddeghem, 65, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Jan. 6 to answer an impaired driving charge.
Vanheddeghem was charged by Woodstock Police in connection with an incident on Aug. 24, 2025, in Woodstock. She made her first court appearance on Jan. 6 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date.
Released on undertaking
Rodney Baker, 62, of Upper Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 3 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.
Baker was charged by the RCMP with assaulting a female victim following an incident on Dec. 17, 2025, in Upper Woodstock. He made his first court appearance on Jan. 6 and was released on an undertaking.
Sentencing on multiple charges
Rachel Sockabasin, 40, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Jan. 12 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading guilty to multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
She pleaded guilty to theft at the Ultramar in Carlingford on Aug. 11, on Dec. 22, 2023, and on Feb. 12, 2024; guilty to breaching of probation and breach of an undertaking on Feb. 12, 2024; breaching a release order on Sept. 4 and Nov. 9, 2025, at Perth-Andover; guilty to theft at the Superstore in Grand Falls and obstructing police on April 1, 2025; failing to report to the police between July 4 and Aug. 22, 2025; and breaching a release order on July 8, 2025, in Grand Falls. Another theft charge was to be transferred from Edmundston to Woodstock.
Sockabasin appeared in provincial court in custody via video in November 2025 for a bail hearing. She was released on conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device on her ankle.
Charges being transferred
Kristen Hamilton Smith, 34, of Carlingford, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 8 for plea on several charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Hamilton-Smith appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference in December after being arrested on a warrant. She waived her bail until later and was remanded to jail. On Jan. 8, the court heard she wanted her charges transferred to Edmundston.
Hamilton-Smith was charged with breach of a release order for violating electronic monitoring and mischief, causing property damage to her ankle bracelet, for an incident on May 17, 2025, in East Brighton.
She was also charged with possession of a stolen truck on June 27, 2025, in Canterbury; three counts of theft from businesses in Plaster Rock and Perth-Andover on Oct. 27, 2025, and two counts of mischief, break and enter, flight from police, and dangerous driving for an incident on Oct. 23, 2025, in Perth-Andover.
Not-guilty plea on nine charges
James Morgan DeMerchant, 24, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court via teleconference on Jan. 8 and pleaded not guilty to nine charges laid by Woodstock Police. His trial date was set for Jan. 27, 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Demerchant was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) while prohibited from having it, possession of a prohibited firearm without a licence, unauthorized possession of a firearm, possession of two stolen passports, possession of a firearm with an altered serial number, carrying a prohibited firearm, possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and carrying a concealed weapon following an incident on Oct. 12, 2025, in Woodstock.
He appeared in court via video for a bail hearing in November and was released with conditions to a rehab facility in Moncton with the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He will remain in rehab for the next eight to 10 months.
Agreed to peace bond
Jason Moulton of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) appeared for trial in provincial court on Jan.8 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled.
Moulton was charged with sexual assault and assault by choking in relation to an incident on Oct. 22, 2023, at Neqotkuk. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
Break-in on Searle Street
Two men appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 8 and set dates for their bail hearings on charges related to a break-in on Searle Street on Nov. 24, 2025.
Bastian Kitchener Bradbury of Fredericton and Michael Ronald McKee of Woodstock were each charged with breaking into a woodworking shop, possession of stolen tools, possession of a stolen vehicle (a Mazda CX5), possession of break-in tools, and prowling at night. Bradbury also faces a charge of wearing a mask while committing an offence.
Bradbury returns to court in custody on Jan.12 at 1:30 p.m., while McKee will appear in custody on Jan. 15 at 9:30 a.m. McKee is also scheduled to enter a plea to his charges on Jan. 29 at 9:30 a.m. The court heard they are also in custody on other charges in Fredericton.
Released with conditions
Gavin Schloemer, 33, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 8 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
Schloemer was arrested on Jan. 6. He was charged by the RCMP with breaching his conditional sentence order of house arrest. He denied the allegation, and a hearing was set for Jan. 30 at 9:30 a.m.
In custody awaiting trial
Jacob Jinson, 26, of Somerville, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 8 for a monitoring hearing about his trial. The matter was adjourned for more monitoring until Jan. 15 at 1:30 p.m.
Jinson appeared in provincial court in custody via video for a bail hearing on Dec. 31, 2025, after being arrested on a warrant on a charge of breaching a no-contact order. He was denied bail and remanded to jail.
Jinson was also charged by the RCMP with uttering threats on April 10, 2024, in Somerville, breaching his curfew on April 20, 2024, and failing to appear in court on Aug. 6, 2024.
He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Dec. 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The court heard that the trial date must be moved up because Jinson is currently in custody.
Released to enter rehab
Earl James Demerchant, 34, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 7 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions to enter a rehab facility in Moncton. He returns to court for plea on Feb. 3 at 9:30 a.m.
On Dec. 30, 2025, Demerchant appeared in court in custody via video for a fitness hearing after being remanded to Restigouche hospital for a 30-day mental health assessment. He was found fit to stand trial and remanded for a bail hearing.
Demerchant was charged with mischief, causing property damage to a window on Main Street in Woodstock on July 8, 2025; causing a disturbance in a public place and breach of probation in connection with an incident on Nov. 5, 2025; and breach of a release order and breach of probation on Nov. 22, 2025, in Woodstock.
Wants bail review
Brodey O’Donnell, 22, of Campbell Settlement, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Jan. 8 and pleaded not guilty to charges laid by the RCMP. His trial dates were booked for May 15 and June 26 at 9:30 a.m.
O’Donnell told the court he wanted a detention review hearing at the Court of King’s Bench after waiving his bail at an earlier court appearance.
O’Donnell was charged by the RCMP with assaulting police, uttering threats, and resisting arrest for an incident on July 17, 2025, at Campbell Settlement.
He appeared in provincial court in custody in Woodstock on Aug. 19, 2025, after being arrested on a warrant on charges in Edmundston. He faces another charge of resisting arrest for an altercation with sheriffs at the courthouse on Aug. 19, 2025.
Another charge of breaching his release order (curfew) was laid by the RCMP for an incident on Sept. 26, 2025, at Campbell Settlement.
Sentencing adjourned
Trevor Lee Crain, 49, of Killoween, appeared in provincial court on Jan. 7 for sentencing on several charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was adjourned until April 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Crain was denied bail and 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), concerning 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.
On Jan. 7, he changed his plea to guilty on a charge of unlawful entry at a dwelling house on June 15, 2023, at Moose Mountain, and guilty to committing an assault involving a female victim on June 11, 2023, at Killoween. Another breach charge was withdrawn by the Crown.
Crain returns to court to stand trial on July 8 at 9:30 a.m. He pleaded not guilty to breaking into a residence and committing sexual assault for an incident between May 1, 2023, and May 23, 2023, at Moose Mountain.
Missed court appearance
The court issued an arrest warrant for Henry Douglas Oakes, 54, of Fredericton, formerly of Greenfield, after he failed to appear for trial in provincial court on Jan. 7.
Oakes pleaded not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. He appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 4, 2025, and was released with conditions.
He was charged by Woodstock Police with impaired driving on Aug. 6, 2024, and theft from the Superstore on July 12, 2024, in Woodstock. He was also charged by the RCMP with breach of an undertaking on May 15, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol.
Sentencing for two incidents
Braxton Denny, 24, of Jacksonville, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on several charges.
His sentencing date was set for Jan. 7, but was adjourned to the new date to allow him to complete a victim impact statement.
Denny was 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 agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond on all the assault charges and then pleaded guilty to the remaining charges laid in 2024. The peace bond will result in the withdrawal of the assault charges.
Charged with trafficking
Nicholas Paul, 47, and his wife, Jennifer Louise Paul, 45, both of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Jan. 8 for sentencing after changing their plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
Their sentencing was adjourned until Jan. 22 at 1:30 p.m. An agreed statement of facts will be presented to the court by the Crown at that time.
They both pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. Another charge of trafficking in cocaine was withdrawn by the Crown.
In addition, Jennifer Paul pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm for an incident on Sept. 25, 2024, at Neqotkuk.
She also pleaded guilty to breach of a release order (no weapons), two counts of possession of stolen property, and unauthorized possession of a restricted weapon (a collapsible baton) for an incident on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. Several other charges were withdrawn by the Crown.
Nicholas Paul pleaded guilty to breach of a release order (no drugs), possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a stolen licence plate on Oct. 23, 2024, at Neqotkuk. Both accused spent a lengthy time in remand, which will be applied to their final sentence.
