Two Romanian men nabbed at local border crossing
Two Romanian men, who have addresses in the United States, were nabbed by Canadian border officials for allegedly crossing the international border illegally near Belleville on Jan. 30.
Guiseppe Petre, 31, and David Constantin, 22, both of Sacramento, California, appeared in provincial court in custody on Feb. 2 and were remanded to jail. They return to court in custody for a bail hearing on Feb. 7 at 10:30 a.m.
Petre and Constantin were each charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with failing to appear for examination concerning an incident at Belleville on Jan. 30.
The charge is an indictable offence under the federal legislation. More charges are expected to be laid at their next court appearance. The two men have requested a Romanian interpreter to assist them with the court proceedings.
Woodstock man in custody after early morning arrest
Julian Cassius Atherton, 18, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 30 to answer drug and weapons charges laid by Woodstock Police. He waived his bail until later and returns to court for plea on Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.
Atherton was charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (knives), committing mischief and five counts of breaching a release order.
The charges were laid following an incident on Jan. 29 at 4:30 a.m. when Woodstock Police observed an adult male and a young offender prowling in dark clothing. The two were arrested, and a quantity of crystal meth, meth pills and several knives were seized. Police believe one of the individuals is linked to a series of property crimes and graffiti incidents in the town.
Atherton is also charged with escaping lawful custody for a separate incident involving two sheriffs who were escorting an individual to jail on July 22, 2023.
180 days in jail or time served
Brandon Jeffrey Cote, 28, of Woodstock, was sentenced to 180 days in jail or time served when he appeared in provincial court on Feb. 2. He was also placed on 12 months of probation and ordered to seek counselling as required.
The court heard Cote spent several months in custody and was released in late December. He pleaded guilty to assaulting another man, uttering threats, and breach of probation for an incident in Woodstock on Aug. 22, 2023, and guilty to uttering threats against a female victim and breach of an undertaking for another incident on Aug. 18, 2023. He had a lengthy prior criminal record.
Centreville pair awaiting sentencing
Connell Ross McLean, 27, and Isaak Tedford Thomas, 27, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Feb. 1 and changed their plea to guilty on multiple charges related to a series of incidents, including a police chase and shots fired.
McLean pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence; guilty to being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm; guilty to resisting arrest; guilty to possession of a stolen side-by-side; guilty to possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it; guilty to flight from police; guilty to driving while prohibited; guilty to assaulting a police officer with a weapon (the side-by-side); and guilty to breach of probation. His sentencing was set for March 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Thomas pleaded guilty to carelessly using a firearm, guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence, guilty to being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, guilty to resisting arrest, guilty to possession of a firearm while prohibited, and guilty to breach of probation. His sentencing was set for March 28 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP arrested the two men following a collision between an off-road vehicle and a police cruiser on Route 105 in Lower Brighton, south of Harland, on July 17, 2023. The arrests were related to a Monday morning incident in Speerville, south of Woodstock, which included shots fired at a Speerville resident.
The suspects fled Speerville, leading to an hours-long police search and investigation in several communities, including Lakeville, between Centreville, Woodstock, and Lower Brighton.
Arrested and held for bail hearing
Andrew Pelkey, 44, of Plymouth Road, was arrested on a warrant when he appeared for trial in provincial court on Feb. 2. His trial was adjourned, and a bail hearing was set for Feb. 5 at 10:30 a.m.
The warrant was issued after Pelkey failed to appear in court for plea on Dec. 19, 2023. He was charged with breaching his release order by violating his curfew following an incident in Woodstock on Sept. 30, 2023.
He appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 30, 2023, on eight other charges laid by RCMP. The trial was adjourned until Feb. 2 at the request of his defence counsel, but the matter did not proceed as scheduled due to his arrest.
At an earlier court appearance, 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, 2023, near Richmond Corner. The alleged threats and assaults involve a female victim.
Pelkey appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on March 31, 2023. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Returning to court for plea
Jennifer Chelsea Lee, 31, of Newbridge, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. for a plea on one charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Lee was charged with assault following an incident on July 15, 2023, in Woodstock. She made her first court appearance on Jan. 30, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Fielding man to appear on assault charge
Nicholas LaPointe, 34, of Fielding, will appear in provincial court on Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on an assault charge.
Lapointe was charged by RCMP with assault involving a female victim on Oct. 24, 2023, near Florencville-Bristol. He made his first court appearance on Jan. 30, when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Perth-Andover woman charged with fraud, forgery
Faith York, 23, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on Feb. 2 to answer fraud and forgery charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until March 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
York was charged with uttering forged documents (cheques) and defrauding a bank of $5,747 in connection with incidents at Neqotkuk between June 13, 2022, and July 4, 2022.
Neqotkuk man charged with fraud
Brock Vollmar, 47, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial court on March 12 at 1:30 p.m. to set a date for his trial on a fraud charge.
RCMP charged Vollmar with defrauding the band office of more than $5,000 concerning incidents between July 2 and July 4, 2022, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Feb. 2.
Perley facing more charges
Jacob Perley, 32, of Neqotkuk, will appear in provincial on March 12 at 1:30 p.m. to set a date for his trial on fraud charges laid by RCMP.
Perley was charged with possessing forged documents (cheques) and defrauding the band office of over $5,000 between June 13 and Oct. 6, 2023, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty at a court appearance on Feb. 2.
Perley will also stand trial on drug trafficking charges on March 27 at 9:30 a.m. and April 5 at 9:30 a.m. He was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, production of cocaine, unlawful possession of ketamine (a date rape drug) for the purpose of trafficking, possession of methamphetamine, obstruction, and breach of an undertaking in connection with an incident on Aug. 26, 2022, at Neqotkuk.
Perley will also appear in provincial court on March 19 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing on other charges. He was charged by RCMP with breach of a release order, breaking and entering a dwelling house, possessing a weapon dangerous to public peace, assault with a weapon, and using an imitation firearm in connection with a Dec. 16, 2021, incident in the community.
He pleaded guilty to the breach charge and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace. The remaining charges will be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing.
Arrested and released with conditions
Calvin Joseph Nicholas, 53, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Jan. 31. He was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on Feb. 27 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP charged Nicholas with breaching his release order. He also appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Jan. 22 and was released with conditions after being charged with the same offence. He returns to court for plea on that matter on Feb. 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Nicholas is also scheduled for trial in provincial court on June 26 at 9:30 a.m. RCMP charged him with uttering threats against another man and breaching an undertaking for an incident at Neqotkuk in 2021. He entered his not-guilty plea in May 2022, and a trial date was set, but he failed to appear.
Nicholas appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 4, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He has a lengthy prior criminal record. He was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear for trial on Feb. 17, 2023.
He also failed to appear in court on Jan. 3, 2023, to answer charges of breach of probation and failing to report his whereabouts to the national sex offender registry on July 3, 2022. At his court appearance on July 18, 2023, he pleaded not guilty on all counts.
