11 charges in road rage incident
An Upper Woodstock man is facing 11 charges in relation to a road rage incident on May 27 at the intersection of Main Street and Deakin Drive in Woodstock.
Wyatt Mark Belyea, 28, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 5 for plea on the charges. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 15 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel. The court heard that a resolution is being sought with the crown. Belyea remains in custody.
He was charged with uttering threats, pointing a firearm at another person, driving while prohibited, carelessly transporting a firearm, possession of a firearm (a SKS semi-automatic rifle) without a licence, being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm, possession of a firearm while prohibited from having it, failing to surrender a firearm licence when required, assaulting a police officer with a weapon (a vehicle), flight from police, and refusing a breathalyzer demand.
Belyea appeared in court in custody via teleconference on May 28 and waived his bail until later. Following his arrest, a long-barreled rifle with an attached bayonet was located and seized from a pickup truck. He has a prior criminal record.
Warrant issued on sex charges
The court issued an arrest warrant for Chad Brooker, 36, of Centreville, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on three sex charges laid by the RCMP.
Brooker was charged with sexual assault, touching a minor for a sexual purpose and invitation to sexual touching in connection with an incident between June 1 and Oct. 31, 2024, at Centreville.
Guilty plea on three charges
Vinal Todd Hatto, 40, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 5 and pleaded guilty to three charges laid by Woodstock Police. His sentencing date was set for Sept. 4 at 9:30 a.m.
Hatto pleaded guilty to flight from police, driving while prohibited and possession of a stolen motorcycle in connection with an incident on May 28 in Lower Woodstock. Another charge of resisting arrest was withdrawn by the crown. Hatto was denied bail on May 29. He has a prior criminal record.
House arrest, $1,000 fine
Catherine Polchies, 46, of Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation), received a four-month conditional sentence and a $1,000 fine when she appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for sentencing on two charges laid by the RCMP.
Polchies pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm without a licence concerning an incident on Nov. 11, 2023, at Wotstak, when a loaded rifle was found inside a stolen truck at the Eagles Nest gaming centre. The crown withdrew several other charges.
Judge Martin Goguen handed Polchies 40 days of house arrest and 80 days of following a curfew under the conditional sentence order. She will be permitted to attend work during her house arrest.
She was also fined $1,000 after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm too close to a dwelling house on Sept. 27, 2022, at Lower Woodstock. The charge was laid under the Fish and Wildlife Act. The court heard she shot a deer along the NB Trail system and then saw the house nearby.
Polchies was prohibited from possessing firearms for five years. She had a prior criminal record.
Sentencing adjourned to November
Kyle Glen Anderson, 38, of Hartland, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Aug. 5 after changing his plea to guilty on four charges laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was adjourned until Nov. 4 at 1:30 p.m. to allow for the completion of a pre-sentence report.
Anderson pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, committing mischief, causing property damage to a vehicle, and two counts of uttering threats in connection with an incident on July 4, 2023, at Ashland.
Returning for plea
Jacob Jinson, 26, of Somerville, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 to answer three charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned for plea until Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Jinson was charged 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 appeared in provincial court in custody by video on July 24 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court. He told the court that the police showed up to arrest him after a whole year of being on the lam. He was released with conditions, with an order to appear.
Awaiting new sentencing date
James Blair Hovey, 28, of Perth Andover, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Aug. 5 after changing his plea to guilty on multiple charges laid by the RCMP.
His sentencing was adjourned to allow for the transfer of more charges from Fredericton and Miramichi. Hovey returns to court in custody on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to set a new date for his sentencing.
Hovey pleaded guilty to assaulting another man and theft of keys on Nov. 27, 2024, in New Denmark. Another charge of theft of tools was withdrawn.
He also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen ATV, breach of probation and flight from police on March 30, 2024, at Tobique Narrows; guilty to taking a vehicle without consent and breaching his curfew on Oct. 25, 2024, at Perth Andover; guilty to flight from police, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, and breaching his curfew on Nov. 27, 2024, at Plaster Rock; and guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation on Jan. 9 at Carlingford. Two other charges were withdrawn.
The court heard the crown would be seeking a one-year jail sentence for all counts. Hovey has been in custody since his arrest in January.
Hovey was also charged by Woodstock Police with breach of probation and break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26, 2024. He pleaded not guilty and his trial was reset for Sept. 12 and Sept. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Facing three new charges
Mitchell Hillman, 36, of Wilmot, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for a monitoring hearing about his upcoming trial when three new charges were laid against him by Woodstock Police.
Hillman was charged with dangerous driving, flight from police and obstruction for an incident on March 13 in Woodstock. He returns to court for plea on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m.
Hillman will also appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 21 at 9:30 a.m. and Sept. 5 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to other charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Hillman was charged with assault involving a female victim and uttering threats concerning an incident on Sept. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. He appeared in court in custody and was released with conditions.
He was also charged with driving while prohibited on Feb. 12, 2024, in Woodstock and mischief causing property damage to a truck on Feb. 16, 2024, in Woodstock. His trial was set for Sept. 5.
He appeared in provincial court on June 26 and pleaded guilty to stealing copper wire from the former tourist bureau at Richmond Corner. His sentencing was set for Oct. 6 at 1:30 p.m.
Hillman was charged with breaking and entering, but pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of theft in connection with a break-in at the tourism building on Feb. 19, 2024. A co-accused, Michael Holt, 68, of Riverglade, pleaded not guilty and will stand trial on Sept. 3 at 1:30 p.m.
Charged with robbery
Chad Clark, 47, of Mount Pleasant, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 after pleading not guilty to a robbery charge laid by the RCMP. He returns to court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to set a trial date.
Clark was charged with robbery with violence in connection with the theft of a vehicle on Feb. 5 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
Beaconsfield man awaiting trial
Austin Powers, 26, of Beaconsfield, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 5 and pleaded not guilty to multiple charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Nov. 6-7 at 9:30 a.m.
Powers was denied bail on June 6. He was charged with two counts of breaching a recognizance on May 15 and May 20 at Plaster Rock; assault while threatening to use a weapon (a wooden mallet), assault involving a female victim, two counts of uttering threats, breaching an order not to have weapons in his possession on May 21 at Plaster Rock; and resisting arrest and uttering threats to police on May 23 at Plaster Rock. Powers has a prior criminal record.
Sentencing scheduled
Earl James Demerchant, 35, of Woodstock, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Aug. 6 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading guilty to several charges.
Demerchant pleaded guilty to uttering threats against another man on May 4 in Woodstock; guilty to breaching an undertaking on March 8; and guilty to assaulting police, resisting arrest and breach of probation on Jan. 19 in Woodstock. Another charge of breach of probation on Nov. 3, 2024, in Waterville was withdrawn by the crown.
He appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on July 17 after being arrested on a warrant by Woodstock Police. He was released with conditions until his sentencing.
Back in custody on Edmundston charges
Daniel Jr. Constandinides, 19, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Aug. 5 to set a date for his trial. He pleaded not guilty to several charges laid by the RCMP, and a trial date was set for Sept. 10-11, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Constandinides appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 12 for a bail hearing. He was released with conditions, including the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device attached to his ankle. However, he was later arrested and remanded to jail on other new charges in Edmundston.
The RCMP charged Constandinides with theft of a Canada Post vehicle, theft of mail, and theft of a firearm on March 27 at Perth-Andover. He was also charged with two counts of assault with a weapon (a knife) and committing mischief, causing property damage to a door, for another incident on March 15 at Perth-Andover.
Constandinides was also charged with breaching an undertaking and obstructing police for an incident on March 23 in Perth-Andover. He pleaded not guilty on all counts.
Sentencing for drug trafficking
Mohammed Karam Abualhawa, 24, of Fredericton, will appear in provincial court on Sept. 2 at 1:30 p.m. for sentencing on a drug trafficking charge. His defence counsel represented him via teleconference during a monitoring hearing on Aug. 5.
Abualhawa was found guilty by Judge Karen Lee after his trial. He was charged by the RCMP with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking following an incident on Feb. 21, 2023, at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation). The charge was laid in connection with a search of a vehicle. Police seized a quantity of cocaine in nine bags, a debit card and $900 in cash.
Charged with copper wire theft
Dana MacLean, 59, of no fixed address, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 28 at 1:30 p.m. He appeared in court on Aug. 5 for a monitoring hearing and told the court he was still trying to secure legal counsel.
MacLean pleaded not guilty to theft and mischief charges laid by the RCMP. He was charged with committing mischief, causing property damage, and indictable theft of copper wire in connection with an incident on July 24, 2024, near Plymouth Road.
Trial for sexual assault
Christopher Thomas O’Keefe, 27, of Fredericton, formerly of Fielding, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for a monitoring hearing about his trial on a sexual assault charge.
O’Keefe was charged by the RCMP with sexual assault in connection with an incident on Feb. 26, 2023, at Upper Brighton. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial date was set for Dec. 18-19 at 9:30 a.m.
He returns to court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed to trial. A pre-trial conference was also scheduled for Oct. 14.
Not-guilty plea
Marlon Scott, 43, of Centreville, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 and pleaded not guilty to a threat charge. His trial date was booked for Sept. 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
The RCMP charged Scott with uttering threats in connection with an incident on April 28 at Centreville. A monitoring date was set for June 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to confirm he has legal counsel to proceed to trial.
Plea delayed for legal counsel
Brandon Tomah, 36, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. to allow him more time to secure legal counsel.
Tomah was charged with resisting arrest on Jan. 26 at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation) and theft of a motor vehicle on Jan. 29 at Perth-Andover.
Charged with impaired driving
Amit Mann, 40, of Woodstock, will appear for trial in provincial court on Aug. 6 at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to an impaired driving charge laid by Woodstock Police.
Mann was charged in connection with an incident on Feb. 11, 2023, in Woodstock. His trial was scheduled for April 30 but was adjourned to the new date.
Plea adjourned
Zachery Don Brooks, 21, of Lower Brighton, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on 20 charges laid by the RCMP.
He appeared in court on Aug. 5 when the matter was adjourned to the new date because he had still not consulted his lawyer. Judge Martin Goguen ordered him to contact his lawyer and be ready for his plea by his next court date.
Brooks appeared in provincial court in custody by video for a bail hearing on June 19 and was released from custody with conditions (ankle bracelet). He was later arrested on a warrant for failing to appear and then released until his next court appearance.
Brooks was charged with five counts of assault involving a female victim, four counts of assault by choking, three counts of unlawful confinement, two counts of uttering threats, assault with a weapon (a phone cord), assault while threatening to use a weapon (a knife), possession of a weapon for the purpose of committing an offence, mischief causing damage to a cell phone, and two counts of breaching a release order (no contact).
The charges were laid in connection with a series of incidents on Nov. 24, 2024, Feb. 12, Feb. 17, May 28, June 9, June 10 and June 11, in Lower Brighton; on June 3 and June 5 in Hartland, and on Feb. 19 in Woodstock. He was arrested and taken into custody on June 12.
Facing threat charge
Peti Augustino Peti, 33, of Lakeville, will appear in provincial court on Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. for plea on a threat charge. He was scheduled to enter his plea on Aug. 5 when the matter was adjourned at the request of his defence counsel.
The RCMP charged Peti with uttering threats involving a female victim. The court heard a resolution is being sought with the crown in time for the next court appearance.
Charge transferred
Brett Roger Chase, 26, of Central Waterville, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 to answer one charge laid by Woodstock Police. The matter was adjourned until Nov. 4 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
Chase was charged with fleeing police following an incident in Woodstock. He was arrested on a warrant and released with conditions after failing to appear in court on March 18. On Tuesday, the court heard the charge was being transferred to Fredericton, where he has other charges.
Awaiting trial for assault
Tristan Alexander Calhoun, 38, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 via teleconference for a monitoring hearing. It was confirmed that he has legal counsel to proceed to trial on an assault charge.
Calhoun pleaded not guilty, and a trial date was set for April 15, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. He was charged by Woodstock Police with assaulting a woman, stemming from an incident between March 31 and Oct. 30, 2024, in Woodstock.
Failed to appear
The court issued an arrest warrant for Nicholas Andrew Scott, 39, of Limestone, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on three charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Scott was charged with flight from police, dangerous driving and mischief causing property damage to a door following an incident on Dec. 2, 2024, at NBCC Woodstock.
Warrant issued
The court also issued an arrest warrant for Jesse Demerchant, 33, of Windsor, after he failed to appear in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on several charges laid by the RCMP.
Demerchant appeared in provincial court in custody by video on June 2 for a bail hearing and was released with conditions. He was charged with breaching a no-contact order and resisting arrest on May 29 at Windsor, and assault, assault with a weapon, and assault by choking involving a female victim on May 14 at Windsor.
Trial date booked
Robert McFarlane, 39, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 and pleaded not guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Aug. 24, 2026, at 1:30 p.m.
McFarlane was charged with uttering threats and theft of cigarettes in connection with an incident on Feb. 15 at Florenceville-Bristol.
The RCMP also charged him with assaulting another man on April 4, 2024, at Florenceville-Bristol, and breaking into a dwelling house, committing mischief, causing property damage to a door, and breaching an undertaking on May 4, 2024, in Johnville. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial was rescheduled for Nov. 26, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
MacFarlane appeared in provincial court in custody for a bail hearing on Dec. 11, 2024, and was released with conditions. As part of his release, McFarlane was ordered to follow a curfew, have no contact with the complainant and stay away from a residence in Johnville. He was also prohibited from using firearms.
Adjourned for plea
Michael Murphy, 28, of no fixed address, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on two charges. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of his defence counsel.
The RCMP charged Murphy with fraudulent impersonation with intent to avoid arrest concerning an incident on March 11 at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation).
He appeared in provincial court in custody on June 10 after being arrested on a warrant for failing to attend court in April. He was released with conditions, with an order to appear.
Tobique Narrows man to stand trial
John Hogarth, 46, of Tobique Narrows, appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge laid by the RCMP. His trial date was set for Aug. 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Hogarth was charged with assault involving a female victim in connection with an incident on April 5 at Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation). He was released on an undertaking until his trial. A monitoring date was also scheduled for June 2, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Plea postponed on four charges
Shelby Paul, 28, of Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation), appeared in provincial court on Aug. 5 for plea on four charges laid by the RCMP. The matter was adjourned until Aug. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the request of her defence counsel.
Paul appeared in provincial court in custody on May 28 and was released with conditions. She was charged by the RCMP with assaulting another woman and breach of probation on Jan. 29 at Neqotkuk, and assault with a weapon (a phone) and breach of probation on Jan. 19 at Neqotkuk.
