Two charged in violent kidnapping released from custody
Two men charged in a violent kidnapping at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) have been released from custody pending their pleas. A third female accused was released on May 31. Seven individuals have been charged in relation to the alleged crime.
Keagan Paul, 32, and Preston Sockabasin, 27, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 for their bail hearings. 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.
Judge Henrik Tonning ordered both men to abstain from alcohol and drugs and prohibited them 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.
Keagan Paul returns to court for a plea on July 4 at 1:30 p.m., and Preston Sockabasin will appear for a plea on July 8 at 9:30 a.m.
Sheena Sappier, 36, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 31 for her bail hearing. She 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.
Sappier returns to court for plea on July 4 at 9:30 a.m. and must have no contact with the victim or any of the co-accused.
The kidnapping with violence was alleged to have occurred in the First Nation community between April 27 and April 29.
Sappier, Paul, Sockabasin, Jacob Perley, 34, Ashley Paul, 33, Adam Perley, 33, and Troy Pelkey, 56, from Tilley, were arrested by RCMP and remanded to jail.
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.
Sockabasin also faces separate charges of dangerous driving and flight from police for an incident on May 7.
Troy Pelkey of Tilley appeared in court on May 10 by video for a bail hearing and was denied bail. He returns to court in custody for a plea on June 18 at 11 a.m.
Adam Perley appeared in court in custody by video for a bail hearing on May 30 and was denied bail. He returns to court in custody for plea on July 16 at 10 a.m.
Jacob Perley 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. He returns to court in custody for plea on June 18 at 11 a.m. on the kidnapping charges. His bail hearing was adjourned until a later date.
Jacob Perley also has a trial continuation pending on separate charges of drug trafficking.
Ashley Paul appeared in court in custody by video on May 23 when her bail hearing was adjourned until June 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel. She also has other outstanding charges pending on separate matters.
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.
In custody on drug trafficking charges
William Jarred O’Donnell, 28, of Grafton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 to answer three counts of drug trafficking and theft. He returns to court in custody for plea on June 20 at 1:30 p.m. A new date for his bail hearing will be set at that time.
Woodstock Police charged him with possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, and possession of fentanyl, all for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on May 21 in Woodstock. He was remanded to jail on May 22.
On May 21, Woodstock Police charged O’Donnell with breaching a release order and theft of mail.
He is also awaiting sentencing in October on other separate drug charges after changing his plea to guilty before his trial at the Court of King’s Bench.
Bail hearing waived
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 and waived her bail. She returns to court in custody for plea on June 12 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Brooker with being at large on a release order for an incident on May 27 at Perth-Andover.
The court heard a conditional sentence order was revoked, and she was ordered to serve the remainder of her sentence in jail. She is scheduled to be released from custody on June 27. Brooker has a prior criminal record.
Regis Bowmaster, 30, of Bairdsville, also appeared in court in custody on May 30 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on June 25 at 1:30 p.m. He was arrested on a warrant and charged with breaching a release order by failing to appear in court on Feb. 13.
Bail hearing scheduled
Zachary Sarchfield of Hartland will appear in provincial court in custody by video on June 7 at 1:30 p.m. for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant.
RCMP charged Sarchfield with two counts of unlawful confinement, assault, and possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Jan. 18 after being arrested on a warrant in Fredericton. He was released with conditions but failed to return to court for plea in February. Sarchfield also failed to appear in court to answer charges on Jan. 16, and a warrant was issued.
Awaiting bail hearing
Jordan Perley, 35, of Neqotkuk, appeared in court in custody by video on June 6 for a bail hearing on new charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until June 20 at 1:30 p.m. to allow him more time to consult legal counsel.
Perley was charged with two counts of break and enter at a dwelling house, mischief causing property damage, uttering threats, three counts of assault, and resisting arrest concerning an incident on May 17 at Neqotkuk.
He appeared in court in custody on May 8 and was released with conditions after being arrested on a warrant for failing to appear in court in April. He was re-arrested on new charges and remains in custody.
Perley was also charged by RCMP with two other counts of attempted break and enter at a dwelling house, two counts of mischief causing property damage on Jan. 1 at Neqotkuk, attempted break and enter at a dwelling house, mischief, possession of a prohibited weapon (a butterfly knife), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace on March 18 at Neqotkuk. He was scheduled to appear in court on those charges on May 28.
Plea adjourned on 10 charges
Emily McSheffrey, 26, of Waterville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 6 for plea on charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until June 11 at 11 a.m. to allow her more time to consult legal counsel.
McSheffrey was charged with break and enter at a dwelling house, theft of a TV, and breach of probation for an incident in Woodstock between April 8 and April 16. She was also charged with shoplifting at the Superstore on March 21.
McSheffrey was remanded to jail on May 14 on six other charges laid by RCMP.
RCMP charged her with assault with a weapon (a hammer) involving a male victim, mischief causing property damage and breach of probation concerning an incident on April 27 at Wostak (Woodstock First Nation). She was also charged with assaulting another man, breach of a peace bond, and breach of probation for another incident on May 4 at Killoween.
Arrested and remanded for bail hearing
Shane Lee Dickison, 36, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on June 6 to answer a new charge of breaching his release order (curfew). He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on June 11 at 1:30 p.m.
Dickison was charged with breaching his curfew on June 5 at Hodgdon Road.
He is also facing charges of two counts of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving another man, two counts of uttering threats, breach of a peace bond, and resisting arrest in connection with incidents on April 23 and May 6 in Lower Woodstock. He appeared in court on June 4 to answer the charges and was scheduled to return for plea on June 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Dickison appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 16 for a bail hearing. After his 35-day jail sentence was served, an order was made to release him from custody with conditions on May 30.
He was released with an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. He was ordered to follow a curfew, abstain from drugs and have no contact with the complainants but was re-arrested.
Trial continuation on assault charge
Aaron William Rowan, 47, of Bulls Creek, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 6 on assault charges laid by Woodstock Police. After one day of testimony, the trial was adjourned until June 11 at 1:30 p.m.
Rowan was charged with assault causing bodily harm to another man, assault with a weapon (a metal pipe), and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. He was arrested following an incident at Capital Square in downtown Woodstock in 2023 when a man suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was scheduled.
Trial adjourned on drug trafficking charge
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 23, of Fredericton, appeared for trial in provincial court on June 6 after pleading not guilty to a drug trafficking charge. At the crown’s request, the matter was adjourned until July 4 at 1:30 p.m., and a new trial date will be set then.
Abualhawa was charged by RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident on Feb. 21, 2023, at Wostak (Woodstock First Nation). The charge was laid in connection with a search of a vehicle. His defence counsel entered his not-guilty plea on his behalf on Aug. 15, 2023.
Perth-Andover man to stand trial
Joshua Sebey, 25, of Perth-Andover, will appear for trial in provincial court on June 12, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge.
RCMP charged Sebey in relation to an incident on Sept. 3, 2023, near Aroostook. He appeared in court on June 6 to set his trial date.
