One of seven charged in violent kidnapping released from custody
Sheena Sappier, 36, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 31 for a bail hearing and 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 is one of seven individuals charged in relation to an alleged kidnapping with violence in the First Nation community between April 27 and April 29. She returns to court for plea on July 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Sappier, Jacob Perley, 34, Ashley Paul, 33, Keegan Paul, 32, Preston Sockabasin, 27, 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 the 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.
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.
Keegan Paul and Preston Sockabasin appeared in court in custody by video for their bail hearings on May 31. Both of their bail hearings were adjourned until June 6 at the request of their defence counsel. The bail hearing for Paul will be held at 9:30 a.m., and Sockabasin’s will follow at 1:30 p.m.
Sockabasin also faces separate charges of dangerous driving and flight from police for an incident on May 7.
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.
Jacob Perley was also charged with breaching a conditional sentence order. He returns to court in custody by video on June 3 at 1:30 p.m. to answer the breach charge and to set a date for his bail hearing.
The RCMP police dog service and air services assisted with the investigation and arrests of the individuals charged. Police say the investigation is ongoing. A search warrant was executed at a residence at Neqotkuk on May 6.
Woodstock man in custody on 12 charges
Christopher Hazen Hamilton, 50, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing on 12 charges laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until June 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel. He remains in custody.
Hamilton was charged with assaulting a female victim, assault by choking, three counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a broken teacup) and attempting to cause injury and suffering to a dog, concerning incidents between March 1 and May 24 in Woodstock.
Hamilton was also charged with assaulting a female victim, uttering threats and mischief causing property damage on May 25, and assaulting a female victim and assault with a weapon (a cigar) on May 26. The alleged incidents occurred in Woodstock.
Remanded after bail hearing
Cain Glendon Sparkes, 40, of Richibucto Road, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 29 for a bail hearing on three charges laid by RCMP. He was denied bail and returns to court in custody for plea on June 18 at 10:30 a.m.
Sparkes was charged with two counts of being at large on a release order and possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with an incident on May 24 at Lower Knoxford.
In custody on drug trafficking charges
William Jarred O’Donnell, 28, of Grafton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing on three counts of drug trafficking and theft. His bail hearing was adjourned until June 6 at 11 a.m.
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.
Neqotkuk woman released on conditions
Leah Driscoll, 43, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 29 for a bail hearing on charges laid by RCMP. She was released with conditions and returns to court for plea on June 12 at 9:30 a.m.
Driscoll was arrested and charged with breaching a release order on May 27 and resisting arrest on April 29.
She also appeared in provincial court on Dec. 19, 2023, and pleaded not guilty to three other charges laid by RCMP. A trial date was set for Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m.
Driscoll was charged with obstructing a police officer and two counts of willfully neglecting an animal (two dogs) concerning an incident on July 23, 2023, at Neqotkuk.
Hartland woman returning for plea
Carla Lynn Shaw, 56, of Hartland, will appear in provincial court on June 25 at 1:30 p.m. for plea on charges laid by RCMP.
Shaw was charged with impaired driving and committing mischief causing property damage to a vehicle in connection with an incident on March 9 near Hartland. She made her first court appearance on May 28 when the matter was adjourned to the new date.
Charged with tampering with ankle bracelet
Nicholas Charles Paul, 46, of Neqotkuk, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing. The hearing was adjourned until June 3 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged Paul with breaching a release order by failing to follow the conditions of electronic monitoring (ankle bracelet) following an incident on May 1 at Neqotkuk. He was remanded to jail after his arrest.
After pleading guilty to other separate charges, Paul will also be sentenced on June 3. Woodstock Police charged him with possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation concerning an incident on June 29, 2023, in Woodstock.
One released, another still in custody
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing. At the request of her defence counsel, the hearing was adjourned until June 6 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. More charges may be pending. She 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. More charges may be pending.
Released with conditions after 10 days in remand
Kyrin Moulton, 18, of Grand Falls, formerly of Neqotkuk, appeared in court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He spent 10 days in remand and returns to court for plea on June 25 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Moulton with assault involving a female victim, breach of probation, and breach of a release order stemming from an incident between April 14 and April 25 in Perth-Andover. He spent a few days in jail on other unrelated charges in early April.
Two charged in police chase
Marshall Turner, 23, of Beaconsfield, and Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 30, of Florenceville-Bristol, were arrested and charged by RCMP following a police chase across Carleton North.
Turner appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing. At the request of his defence counsel, the hearing was adjourned until June 18 at 10 a.m. He was charged with possession of a stolen truck, flight from police, dangerous driving, and breach of probation.
Brooker was charged with breach of a conditional sentence order and was held in custody for a bail hearing on April 26. She was remanded to jail and appeared in court in custody by video on April 30 for a hearing when she denied breaching her conditional sentence order. After the hearing, she was ordered to complete her sentence behind bars. She was released on a temporary absence and arrested on new charges on May 28.
They were arrested on April 23 after police pursued the pair through Beaconsfield, Florenceville-Bristol and Johnville, where they were apprehended with the assistance of a police dog and police helicopter. Turner and Brooker both have a prior criminal record.
Bloomfield man denied bail
A Bloomfield man remains in custody following an accident near Meductic on April 26 when a vehicle was forced off the four-lane highway by an oncoming car driving in the wrong lane.
Logan Sanders, 22, of Bloomfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing. He was denied bail and returns to court in custody for plea on June 20 at 1:30 p.m.
He was charged with indictable dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. RCMP arrested him while attempting to cross the Woodstock/Houlton border on April 27.
Sanders also faces charges of assault with a weapon (a knife) involving a male victim and two counts of uttering threats on Sept. 1 in Bloomfield; committing mischief by damaging doors and windows on Oct. 1-31 at Maple Ridge, and committing mischief by damaging a woodstove, walls, door and a table at a residence on Dec. 1-31 in Bloomfield.
A Plaster Rock woman and three youths were not injured when their vehicle left the highway and rolled over in the ditch after swerving to avoid the oncoming car.
Sentencing set for Greenfield man
Terrance Wright, 60, of Greenfield, appeared in provincial court on May 30 and pleaded guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police and RCMP. He returns to court for sentencing on June 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Woodstock Police charged Wright with assaulting another man and uttering threats concerning an incident on Feb. 24 in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty.
RCMP also charged him with three counts of uttering threats against a female victim, committing mischief causing property damage, and breaching a no-contact order in connection with incidents on Dec. 11 and Dec. 23, 2023, at Greenfield. He was ordered to have no contact with the complainant. He changed his plea to guilty to three of those charges.
Wright appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 18 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Not guilty of mischief
David Watson, 27, of Perth-Andover, appeared in provincial court on May 31 for his trial on a mischief charge. The crown called no evidence, and Watson received a directed verdict of not guilty.
Watson was charged with mischief causing property damage in connection with an incident on Oct. 16, 2022, at Neqotkuk. He pleaded not guilty.
Hearing adjourned to October
Myles Andrew Dymond, 49, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on May 29 for a hearing about his request to retract his guilty pleas and go to trial.
The matter was adjourned until Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m. to allow defence counsel James Crocco time to receive transcripts of the court proceedings and prepare for the hearing.
Dymond appeared for sentencing in provincial court on May 2 after pleading guilty to several charges laid by Woodstock Police. He informed the court he wanted to retract his guilty pleas and go to trial.
At that time, Judge Sebastian Michaud reminded Dymond that the facts of the case had been read into the record after his guilty pleas had been entered, solidifying the crown evidence against him.
The judge said a hearing would be held to decide whether or not his guilty pleas would be upheld or a trial date set.
On May 29, Crocco acknowledged there was a “very high standard” for challenging guilty pleas on charges already read into the record.
Dymond pleaded guilty to breaching a no-contact order and an emergency intervention order during an incident in Woodstock on Sept. 17-18, 2023.
On Dec. 5, 2023, he also faced a new charge of transmitting intimate images without consent. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 24. Crocco noted the facts had not been read into the record on this charge.
Dymond first appeared in provincial court in custody on Aug. 28, 2023, and was released with conditions. He was charged with breach of an undertaking by failing to abide by a no-contact order following an incident on Aug. 26, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 24.
On Sept. 19, 2023, he faced charges of assault on a female victim on March 26, 2023, at Bedell and uttering threats on June 18, 2023, in Woodstock. These charges were to be withdrawn by the crown at sentencing. However, the court heard the crown intended to proceed with these charges should the matter go to trial.
Bail hearing adjourned
Zachary Sarchfield of Hartland appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing after being arrested on a warrant. His bail hearing was adjourned until June 7 at 1:30 p.m.
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.
In custody awaiting plea
Gary Frederick Kilcollins, 48, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail until later and returns to court in custody for plea on June 20 at 9:30 a.m.
Kilcollins was charged by Woodstock Police with break and enter at a dwelling house, theft of a TV, and breach of probation for an incident between April 8 and April 16 in Woodstock.
He was also charged with theft from the Woodstock Superstore on March 24 and theft from the Thrift Boutique on April 13. A mischief charge was also laid for an incident on Jan. 2 when a window was broken at another property in town.
He was also charged with breaking into two trailers at Home Hardware in Woodstock.
Sentencing reset for Woodstock woman
Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Upper Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on May 29 for sentencing on charges laid by Woodstock Police. Her sentencing was adjourned until June 21 at 1:30 p.m. to allow her time to consult with her new legal counsel.
King pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property, two counts of assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest for an incident on Nov. 7, 2022, in Woodstock.
The crown withdrew a mischief charge.
King spent several months in remand. She was released from custody following a detention review hearing at the Court of King’s Bench. On May 29, the provincial court released her again with the same conditions, including house arrest and wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle.
Woodstock Police also charged her with possession of a stolen vehicle, dangerous driving, committing mischief causing property damage and assault using a vehicle following an incident on Sept. 17, 2023, in Woodstock; possession of a stolen vehicle on Nov. 22, 2022, and failing to attend court on Feb. 21, 2023. She pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for July 15 at 9:30 a.m.
King was also charged with assault, theft, and breaking into a dwelling house for an incident on Nov. 5, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty. At the crown’s request, the trial was adjourned until Aug. 23 at 1:30 p.m.
She appeared in provincial court in custody in November for a bail hearing. She was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to her ankle, but returned to custody.
Sentencing delayed on two charges
Brandon Cecil Armour, 34, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on May 30 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing was adjourned until June 20 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Woodstock Police charged Armour with prowling at night and resisting arrest in connection with an incident on March 24, 2023, in Woodstock. He pleaded guilty on May 1. The court heard a resolution may be forthcoming on other matters set for trial.
He was also charged with breach of an undertaking and failing to attend court on July 11, 2023, as well as theft of a vehicle and resisting arrest on Aug. 14, 2023. He pleaded not guilty at an earlier court appearance, and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
RCMP also charged Armour with breaching a release order following incidents on Jan. 7 and Feb. 6 near Johnville. He appeared in court in custody on Feb. 9 for a bail hearing and waived his bail until later. On March 13, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of breaching his release his release order and a trial date was set for Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Armour appeared in provincial court in custody by video on April 11 and was sentenced to one year in jail, minus time served, after pleading guilty to another charge. He was also placed on probation for 12 months.
Armour was charged by RCMP with breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief causing property damage to a door, and assault on a female victim, stemming from an incident on June 8, 2022, in Beechwood. He pleaded guilty to breaking into the dwelling, and the crown withdrew the two remaining charges.
Armour appeared in court in custody on Aug. 15, 2023, after being arrested on a warrant. He appeared on Sept. 28, 2023, for a bail hearing and was released with conditions but was brought back into custody.
