Woodstock man sentenced to two years in jail
Justin Ryan Shea, 36, of Woodstock, was sentenced to two years in federal prison when he appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Nov. 6. He was found guilty after trial on two drug trafficking charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Shea was charged with trafficking in methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking in connection with incidents in Woodstock on June 3, 2024, and May 2, 2024.
Judge Rose Campbell also ordered Shea to register with the federal DNA database and prohibited him from the use of firearms for 10 years. He had a prior criminal record.
The court heard details of a police operation at a residence on St. Gertrude Street in Woodstock when Shea sold an undercover officer two baggies of crystal meth valued at $40.
About a month later, police executed a search warrant at the same residence and seized a quantity of methamphetamine, scales, and drug paraphernalia as well as Shea’s cell phone, which contained evidence about drug transactions.
He was also charged with break, enter and theft at a dwelling house on Creighton Street on Sept. 26, 2024, and breaching an undertaking (curfew) on Aug. 14, 2025.
Shea pleaded guilty to the lesser-included offence of possession of stolen property and to the curfew breach. His sentencing on these two charges will take place on Feb. 1 at 1:30 p.m.
Conditional sentence order
Dynielle Allison Demerchant, 28, of Woodstock, received a six-month conditional sentence order when she appeared in provincial court on Nov. 6. Judge Rose Campbell told the accused she must follow a curfew and placed her on 12 months of probation. She was also ordered to seek counselling.
Demerchant pleaded guilty to breaking into a residence on Charlotte Street, committing mischief, possession of a stolen Blue Cross card, breach of probation, and possession of methamphetamine between Sept. 6 and 7, 2024. Woodstock Police laid the charges.
The court heard that Demerchant and a friend had been squatting in a vacant apartment without the owner’s permission. She was homeless and struggling with addiction at the time. She had a prior criminal record.
She also pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle and breach of probation in connection with a separate incident on Sept. 17, 2024, in Woodstock. Police laid the charges after a truck was stolen from the stables at the Connell Park Raceway. It was found later abandoned on a trail near Moffatt Street.
Defence Counsel Dennis Sawyer said Demerchant had turned her life around since the incidents by returning to school, finding a job, and getting her own apartment.
A co-accused, Joshua Sterling Trail, 42, of Hartland, was sentenced to four months in jail or time served when he appeared in provincial court for sentencing on July 29. He was also fined $200.
Trail pleaded guilty to unlawful entry at the same dwelling house on Charlotte Street and committing mischief while on the property. The Crown withdrew several other charges. He had a prior criminal record.
Possession of cocaine
Charles Giberson, 48, of Woodstock, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Nov. 6 after changing his plea to guilty on a drug trafficking charge laid by Woodstock Police.
After hearing final submissions from the Crown and defence counsel, Judge Rose Campbell reserved her sentence decision until Jan. 15. 2027, at 9:30 a.m.
Giberson was charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, stemming from an incident on July 24, 2024, in Woodstock. The court heard he was selling drugs in the parking lot outside a local restaurant where he worked. Police had Giberson under surveillance for some time before making their arrest. He had a dated prior criminal record.
The Crown asked for two years in federal prison and 12 months of probation for the accused, as well as a DNA order and a firearm prohibition.
Defence Counsel Emily Cochrane told the court Giberson was the primary caregiver for his elderly parents and recommended house arrest. He was released on an undertaking until his sentencing.
Remanded for bail hearing
Patrick Harris, 40, of Hartland, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Nov. 6 after being arrested by the RCMP.
Harris was charged with breaching his release order (house arrest) between Nov. 4 and 5 at Grafton. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Harris and a co-accused, Tamara Hamilton, 30, of Woodstock, are both awaiting trial by judge alone on another matter at the Court of King’s Bench. They pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 15, 2025.
Harris was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present; possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition without a licence, wearing a mask with intent to commit an offence; uttering threats against another man, pointing a firearm at another person, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and being an occupant of a vehicle (a half-ton truck) knowing it carried a firearm.
Hamilton was charged with possession of a firearm while prohibited (a sawed-off shotgun), possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, discharging a firearm at a place while reckless as to whether a person was present, possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition without a licence, and being an occupant of a vehicle knowing it carried a firearm.
The pair was arrested by RCMP inside a garage in Pembroke after a blue half-ton truck was spotted leaving the scene of the shooting in Mainstream on Feb. 15, 2025.
Agreed to peace bond
Jeremy William Graves, 31, of Fredericton, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 4 after pleading not guilty to two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Graves was charged with uttering threats and assaulting another man following an incident on April 10, 2025, in Woodstock. He agreed to sign a 12-month peace bond, and the trial was cancelled. The peace bond will result in the charges being withdrawn.
Handed probation
Lucas Green, 22, of Richmond Settlement, appeared for sentencing in provincial court on Nov. 4 after pleading guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP. He was placed on 12 months of probation.
Green pleaded guilty to prowling near a dwelling house on June 26 at Mapledale and breaching his release order (curfew) on Oct. 15, 2025, at Mapledale.
Sentenced for assault
Robert McCormick, 65, of Hartland, received a suspended sentence and 12 months of probation when he appeared in provincial court on Nov. 4. He was also fined $100.
McCormick pleaded guilty to assault in connection with an incident involving a female victim on Jan. 15 at Hartland. The RCMP laid the charge.
Guilty plea
Thomas Wood, 49, of Divide, appeared for trial in provincial court on Nov. 5 and changed his plea to guilty to two charges laid by the RCMP.
Wood pleaded guilty to uttering threats and assaulting another man for an incident on May 27, 2025, in Glassville. His sentencing was set for Feb. 18, 2027, at 1:30 p.m.
Theft charges laid
Christian John Shannon, 26, of Williamstown, appeared in provincial court in custody via teleconference on Nov. 6 after being arrested on charges laid by Woodstock Police. He was remanded to jail to await a bail hearing on Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m.
Shannon was charged with theft and trespassing at the Walmart on June 7; theft from a residence on Nov. 2; possession of a stolen bicycle on July 15; and theft from Cannabis NB on March 26.
He also faces five counts of theft between Sept. 21, 2025, and June 12 from Walmart and Home Zone Electronics in Woodstock, and two counts of possession of stolen property (a bank card and e-scooter) on May 23 and July 29 in Woodstock. He returns to court to plead to those charges on Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
At an earlier court appearance, Shannon pleaded guilty of breaching his probation between Jan. 30 and Aug. 16, 2024, in Woodstock, and theft from Don’s Pawn Shop in Woodstock on April 30, 2024. The court adjourned his sentencing until Nov. 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Sentencing adjourned
Brandon Chappell, 28, of Plaster Rock, will appear for sentencing in provincial court on Feb. 18, 2027, at 1:30 p.m. after changing his plea to guilty on one charge laid by the RCMP. His sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 5 but was adjourned.
Chappell appeared in provincial court in January while in custody and was released on conditions. He was charged with pointing a firearm at another person, uttering threats, possession of several firearms without a licence, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace in connection with an incident on June 15, 2024, at Plaster Rock.
He pleaded guilty to the threat charge, and the Crown withdrew the remaining charges.
Glassville man awaiting trial
Timothy Maurice Thibodeau, 42, of Glassville, will appear for trial in provincial court on July 15 and July 29, 2027, at 9:30 a.m. after pleading not guilty to a drug trafficking charge laid by the RCMP.
His new trial dates were booked at a court appearance on Nov. 6. Thibodeau pleaded not guilty to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking on Nov. 28, 2023, in Oakland.
His trial was booked for Nov. 19-20 but was adjourned at his new lawyer’s request. Crown Prosecutor Derek Weaver told the court a significant amount of drugs were involved in the alleged incident. Expert evidence will be presented during the trial.
In custody on a raft of charges
Mason Darren Bustard, 19, of Woodstock, appeared in provincial court in custody via video on Nov. 6 for a pre-trial conference after pleading not guilty to a raft of charges. The court had set aside eight days for five separate trials in January.
On Tuesday, the court heard that a resolution was being sought with the Crown, so it set another hearing for Nov. 19 at 1:30 p.m.
Bustard was arrested and held in custody following an alleged escape from a rehab facility in Moncton. He was denied bail on Aug. 13.
Woodstock Police charged Bustard with being at large on a release order, breach of a no-contact order, possession of a weapon (a butcher knife) for the purpose of committing an offence, unlawful entry at a dwelling house, and threatening a person with a knife, following an incident on Aug. 10 in Woodstock.
Further charges against Bustard include theft of tools, possession of stolen tools, prowling at night on Cambridge Street, five counts of attempting to steal from a vehicle, two counts of mischief causing property damage to the key and ignition of two vehicles, five counts of theft, and possession of stolen property. All the alleged incidents took place on April 7-8 in Woodstock.
Bustard was also charged with possession of stolen property, possession of break-in tools and breach of probation in connection with a rash of vehicle break-ins on April 7-8 in the Elizabeth Street, Creighton Street and Rose Court areas. He was also charged with theft of a motor vehicle from the Legacy Ford dealership in Woodstock on April 30.
Bustard was also charged by the RCMP with flight from police and mischief causing property damage to a lawn at Wotstak (Woodstock First Nation); breach of probation, possession of a stolen truck, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace (a knife), and breaching a release order in Woodstock; two counts of breaching his release order and mischief causing property damage to his ankle bracelet in Bloomfield; and flight from police and theft of fuel in Florenceville-Bristol. All the incidents are alleged to have occurred on April 30.
In custody awaiting plea
Kelsey Janetta Brooker, 31, of Florenceville-Bristol, appeared in provincial court in custody by video on Nov. 4 for plea on two charges laid by Woodstock Police.
Brooker was charged with theft and failing to attend court. The court heard that she also has other charges in Fredericton. She requested those charges be transferred to Woodstock for a guilty plea. All matters were adjourned until Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m. Brooker also has a sentencing date on Jan. 12 for another theft charge.
