Bloomfield woman holds back tears in fear of prison sentence
A Bloomfield woman held back tears as she told the court on Friday she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea and postpone her sentencing for the fourth time.
Bronwyn Barbara Thomas, 23, was charged by RCMP with attempting to possess two kilograms of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with an incident on March 2, 2022, at the Canada Post Office in Centreville.
Thomas was expected to receive a two-year federal prison sentence when the proceedings first stopped on Oct. 4. At that time, Thomas told Judge Cameron Gunn she wanted to withdraw her guilty plea and seek new legal counsel.
Judge Gunn warned Thomas that her guilty plea had been entered and that she had already agreed to a statement of facts that had been read into the record at her last court appearance. A joint submission on sentencing, as proposed by the crown and defence counsel, was cancelled due to her request to withdraw her guilty plea.
Her sentencing was adjourned to Oct. 15 and then Nov. 1 to allow her more time to consult a lawyer and apply for a hearing to withdraw her guilty plea. However, she was not prepared to proceed at either of those court appearances.
Judge Gunn reset her sentencing for Nov. 22 when she appeared in court without a lawyer, while carrying a handwritten application for a hearing.
“I don’t have thousands of dollars for a lawyer, but I’m doing the best I can,” Thomas said as she shook with emotion.
Judge Gunn called a recess for Thomas to consult duty counsel by teleconference. When court resumed, Gunn adjourned the matter to Nov. 28 at 11 a.m. for a hearing on her application to withdraw her guilty plea.
To do so, Thomas must prove she was unaware of the allegations and charges, that she was unaware of the effect and consequences of her guilty plea, that her plea was not made voluntarily, and that her plea was equivocal in nature.
Judge Gunn warned Thomas that Nov. 28 would be her last chance to state her case; otherwise, sentencing would be carried out. Federal Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver argued there had already been enough delays in dealing with the accused.
In the statement of facts presented earlier by the crown, the court heard Thomas was arrested by RCMP going out the door at the Centreville post office on March 2, 2022, with a parcel she received by mail from British Columbia. When she saw the police, she dropped it to the ground and said the parcel did not belong to her. Police found other drug paraphernalia in her vehicle, and her purse and cell phone evidence linked her to a drug transaction.
A post office inspector in Dieppe identified the parcel addressed to Thomas as suspicious, and police were notified. Two kilograms of crystal meth were found inside in sealed bags. The meth was confiscated, and a non-controlled substance similar to rock salt was put inside the parcel before it was mailed (as addressed) to Thomas in Centreville. She opened her post office box and retrieved the mail slip for the package marked priority post.
Sentenced to 150 days or time served
Erica Ann Trecartin, 28, of Lower Brighton, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 21 and pleaded guilty to several charges laid by RCMP. She was sentenced to 150 days in jail or time served and was released from custody.
Trecartin was denied bail on Oct. 1. She was charged by RCMP with failing to appear in court on June 24 and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking concerning an incident in Grafton on Jan. 29.
She pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court and received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation. The crown withdrew the drug trafficking charge. Trecartin had a prior criminal record.
She was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, driving while suspended, dangerous driving, failing to stop for police, driving while prohibited and breach of probation for an incident on Nov. 3, 2022. She pleaded guilty to the driving offences. The crown withdrew the stolen vehicle charge and breach of probation.
She was also charged with indictable breach of probation on Jan. 29, breaching an undertaking (curfew) on Feb. 24, and two counts of failing to appear in court on March 18 and April 9. She pleaded guilty to breaching her curfew and failing to appear in court on March 18, and the crown withdrew the remaining charges.
A co-accused Ronald McLaughlin, 33, of St. Stephen, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison on Aug. 12 after pleading guilty to five charges laid by RCMP.
McLaughlin appeared in provincial court in custody on Jan. 30. RCMP charged him with dangerous driving, driving while suspended, and driving without insurance, stemming from the same incident on Jan. 29 in Grafton. The court heard he was being held in custody on other charges in Saint John.
McLaughlin was also charged with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with the same incident in Grafton. On May 2, an additional charge was laid for failing to appear in court on March 5. He received 36 months in prison on the drug charge as well as additional jail time for the driving offences and failing to appear.
Guilty plea to violent assault
Garrison Cane Perley, 34, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 20 and changed his plea to guilty on two charges of assault. His sentencing date was set for March 4, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Perley pleaded guilty to assault by choking involving a female victim and assault with a weapon (a knife) in connection with an incident on Oct. 14, 2023, near Perth-Andover. The crown withdrew another charge of assault.
The court heard details of a violent domestic dispute at an apartment where the accused attacked a woman while he was heavily intoxicated. Police arrived and found the premises trashed and the accused leaving the building with a laundry basket full of his belongings.
Charges laid following accident
Rylan McLeod, 21, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on seven charges laid by RCMP.
McLeod was charged with three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and obstructing police in relation to an accident on Jan. 5 at Bulls Creek. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 19 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Returning for plea
Braden Morgan, 27, of Woodstock, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Morgan was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats in connection with an incident on Oct. 30 in Woodstock. He made his first court appearance on Nov. 19 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of his defence counsel.
Charged with impaired driving
Angela O’Donnell, 56, of Glassville, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 10 at 9:30 a.m. to answer an impaired driving charge.
RCMP charged O’Donnell following an incident on June 16 at Fielding. She made her first court appearance on Nov. 19 when the matter was adjourned for plea to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Senior facing two charges
Ursel Wagner Estabrooks, 71, of Wilmot, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 17 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on two charges laid by RCMP.
Estabrooks was charged with impaired driving and dangerous driving stemming from an incident on Aug. 18 at St. Thomas. She made her first court appearance on Nov. 19 when the matter was adjourned to the new date at the request of her defence counsel.
Suspended sentence, probation
Tyler Kevin Cluff, 32, of Woodstock, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation on Nov. 20 after pleading guilty to a breach charge. He was also fined $200.
Woodstock Police charged Cluff with breach of probation by failing to report between March 7 and July 27, 2023, in Woodstock. The court heard he was employed and had a limited prior criminal record.
Sentencing set on assault charges
Collin Francis Bear, 35, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 21 and changed his plea to guilty on an assault charge laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Feb. 26, 2025, at 1:30 p.m.
Bear was charged with assault, two counts of assault with a weapon (an axe and a mirror) involving a female victim, possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence (an axe) in connection with an incident on Aug. 26, 2023, at Neqotkuk. He appeared in court in custody for a bail hearing and was released with conditions.
On Nov. 21, he pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a weapon (an axe and a mirror) and the remaining charges were withdrawn by the crown.
Bear also has a trial on Aug. 7, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in relation to a separate assault charge. A monitoring date was set for Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed.
Sentencing set for Turner
Marshall Turner, 24, of Beaconsfield, appeared for trial in provincial court in custody on Nov. 22 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Dec. 17 at 1:30 p.m.
RCMP charged Turner with possession of stolen vehicle, flight from police, breach of probation and possession of a stolen fuel pump in connection with a police chase across Carleton North on April 23 that ended in Johnville.
He pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen vehicle and breach of probation, and the crown withdrew the remaining two charges.
He was also charged with possessing a stolen vehicle on April 13 in Greenfield. The crown withdrew that charge.
Turner also pleaded guilty to possession of stolen vehicle, breach of probation, dangerous driving and driving without insurance on April 18 in Perth-Andover. The court heard Turner was charged following an accident on Route 130 near Bairdsville when he fell asleep at the wheel and collided with a transport truck.
Turner appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 18 and waived his bail until later. He has a prior criminal record and has been in custody since his arrest in April.
In custody awaiting trial
Curtis Brent Hatheway, 43, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 21 for a bail hearing. He waived his bail and was remanded to jail to await his trial on Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m.
Hatheway was arrested on a warrant by Woodstock Police. He pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including two counts of breach of probation and two counts of breaching a peace bond between June 30 and July 8 and on Sept. 13 in Woodstock, breach of an undertaking, breach of probation, breach of a peace bond and criminal harassment between Sept. 14 and Sept.16 in Woodstock. The charges relate to a no-contact order involving a female complainant. He has a prior criminal record.
Neqotkuk man awaits sentencing
Brandon Michael Francis, 29, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 22 and changed his plea to guilty on several charges laid by RCMP. His sentencing date was set for Dec. 13 at 1:30 p.m.
Francis was denied bail on Aug. 29. He pleaded guilty to two counts of committing mischief causing property damage and breach of probation on July 17 at Neqotkuk; and guilty to assault causing bodily harm involving a female victim and breach of probation on July 19. The crown withdrew three other charges. He appeared in court in custody on July 23 and was remanded.
On Nov. 22, the court heard Francis punched a woman in the mouth and cut her lip during a domestic dispute at Neqotkuk on July 19. Francis admitted to the offence. He has a prior criminal record.
Trial date pending
Marc Morin, 24, of Aroostook, will appear in provincial court on Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date on charges laid by RCMP.
Morin pleaded not guilty to possessing a stolen snowmobile and obstructing a police officer in connection with an incident on March 6, 2023, in Carlingford. He entered his plea at a court appearance on Nov. 21.
On Oct. 1, he was also charged with breaching a release order by failing to appear for trial on July 15. That matter was adjourned until Dec. 5 for plea.
Morin appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Oct. 3 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was arrested on a warrant on Oct. 1 for failing to appear in court.
Adjourned to new date
Brian Keith Reynolds, 45, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Nov. 21 to answer several charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
RCMP charged him with uttering threats against a female victim, breach of probation, and driving while suspended, stemming from an incident on Oct. 8, 2023, in Bloomfield. He pleaded not guilty and returns to court on Dec. 5 to set a trial date.
Reynolds was also charged with two counts of resisting arrest on Nov. 1, 2023, and Nov. 27, 2023, at Wotstak. On Sept. 17, he faced two new charges of assault and assault with a weapon concerning another incident on Aug. 4 at Wotstak. He returns for plea on those charges on Dec. 5.
Reynolds appeared in provincial court in custody in July and was released with conditions, including wearing an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle.
Charges withdrawn
Martina Crouse, 33, of Rosedale, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 22 on firearm charges laid by RCMP. The crown withdrew the charges, and the trial was cancelled.
RCMP charged Crouse with possession of a firearm without a licence (a rifle), improper storage of a firearm, and possession of a gun with the serial number altered concerning an incident on July 27, 2023, at Rosedale.
Trial adjourned on four charges
Charles Wylie Reinhardt, 37, of Woodstock, was scheduled to appear for trial in provincial court on Dec. 2 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to charges laid by Woodstock Police. On Nov. 22, his trial was adjourned to June 9, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Reinhardt was charged with dangerous driving, flight from police, refusing a breathalyzer demand and resisting arrest following an incident on July 30, 2023, in Woodstock.
Warrant for arrest issued
The court issued an arrest warrant for Troy Keenan, 50, of Florenceville-Bristol, after failing to appear for a provincial court trial on Nov. 22.
RCMP charged Keenan with assaulting another man while threatening to use a weapon (a knife) in connection with an incident on July 1, 2023, at Florenceville-Bristol.
The court heard the crown and the defence counsel planned to settle the matter through a peace bond, but Keenan was not present in court to agree to sign the recognizance.
Trial postponed on multiple charges
Trial dates were postponed for Brittany Priscilla King, 27, of Woodstock, at the request of her new defence counsel in provincial court on Nov. 20.
Woodstock Police charged King with assault with a weapon (a knife), assault causing bodily harm to a male victim, theft, and unlawful entry at a dwelling house concerning an incident on Nov. 5, 2023, in Woodstock. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial dates were rescheduled for April 14 and April 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
She was also charged 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. She pleaded not guilty, and her trial was adjourned until May 8, 2025.
King was also charged with possessing 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 April 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
House arrest revoked for Neqotkuk couple
Jennifer Louise Paul, 45, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court in custody on Nov. 21 for plea on charges laid by RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
At an earlier court appearance, Paul waived her bail and later admitted to breaching her house arrest on Sept. 26. Her conditional sentence order was revoked, and she was remanded to finish her sentence in custody.
Paul was also charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property (cash), possession of a prohibited firearm (a sawed-off shotgun) without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a gun for an incident on Sept. 25 at Neqotkuk. She will make her plea on Dec. 5.
Her husband, Nicholas Paul, 46, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), also appeared in court in custody by video on Nov. 21. He was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property (cash) for an incident on Oct. 23 at Neqotkuk. He will return to court in custody on Dec. 5 at 9:30 a.m. for plea.
He waived bail until later and also admitted to breaching his house arrest on Sept. 26. His conditional sentence order was also revoked, and he was remanded to finish his sentence in custody.
At the time of their arrest, they were each charged by RCMP with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking for an incident on Oct. 23 at Neqotkuk.
Jennifer Paul was also charged with breach of a release order (no weapons), possession of a stolen licence plate, and possession of a prohibited weapon (a collapsible baton) without a licence on Oct. 23 at Neqotkuk.
Nicholas Paul was also charged with breach of a release order and driving while prohibited on Sept. 22-24 at Neqotkuk, breach of a release order (no drugs), possession of ammunition while prohibited, and possession of a stolen licence plate on Oct. 23 at Neqotkuk. He will return to court in custody for plea on Dec. 10 at 10:30 a.m.
The couple appeared in provincial court in custody on Oct. 16 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions, including wearing electronic monitoring devices attached to their ankles. They were rearrested a week later.
Nicholas Paul was ready for sentencing on other charges when he was arrested on Oct. 15 along with his wife.
