‘Everything about her will be deeply missed’: community mourns tragic death of Marlene Crossman
Residents of the Amherst and Sackville region are mourning the loss of Marlene Arsenault Crossman, who was killed on Thursday, October 12, in her home on King Street in Sackville.
According to her obituary, the 59-year-old leaves behind two sons and their families, as well as a number of brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. For the past few years, Crossman has been the smiling face at the helm of the Amherst Theatre, formerly the Cineplex, in downtown Amherst. The theatre remained closed after Marlene’s death, and reopens Tuesday.
In a post on social media, the Amherst Theatre noted Marlene’s “love of the theatre and how well she treated those around her.”
“Marlene was our leader, our manager, and the greatest employee that one could ever ask for,” reads the message. “Her energy, her kindness, and everything about her will be deeply missed.”
The Sackville RCMP have arrested and charged Roger Crossman with the first degree murder of Marlene. Roger is listed on property records as co-owner of the property at 153 King Street in Sackville, along with Marlene.
The 62-year-old man appeared in court by phone on Friday, October 13, and is now being held for a 30-day psychiatric evaluation. He is due back in Moncton provincial court on November 9, 2023. Crossman turned himself in to the Antigonish RCMP detachment on Thursday, shortly after Sackville RCMP discovered Marlene’s remains at her home, in response to a call they received for a well-being check.… Continue
Prosecutor says drugs had ‘major role’ in murder case with no clear motive
Crown prosecutor Maurice Blanchard says that although there was no clear motive put forward in the convictions of Sean Patrick Patterson and Henry Pottie for their roles in the murder of Jamie Leard, he believes drug use was the underlying reason for the murder.
On Friday, September 15, Henry Pottie was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the murder of Jamie Leard, minus some time to account for time served in remand and time served in solitary confinement. Friday’s hearing was the final one regarding the tragic killing of 38-year-old Leard, who many remembered as a well-loved, quiet, and kind-hearted man.
On May 2, 2023, Pottie pled guilty to manslaughter, admitting to a role in the confrontation that ended in Sean Patrick Patterson shooting Leard on May 25, 2021. He also admitted to helping dispose of Leard’s body, conceal the crime, and mislead police and family members who were looking for Leard.
Pottie has been held in remand since he was arrested on June 5, 2021. He was placed in segregation several times since then, as a result of the court’s no contact order between himself and Leard’s convicted murderer, Patterson. The court typically credits time served before conviction at a rate of 1.5 days for each day served, and Crown and defense lawyers agreed to an additional credit of 45 days to account for the time Pottie spent in segregation.… Continue
‘I will never see him again’: mother of Jamie Leard addresses court
It was two years and two months after Jamie Leard was shot and killed by his former friends in Upper Cape, New Brunswick, that his mother Doris Leard had the chance to speak in court, and tell one of her son’s killers about the impact of his actions on May 25, 2021.
“I miss Jamie so much,” Leard told the Moncton courtroom last week. “He is never coming home again. I will never see him again.”
Leard said she called and texted Jamie almost daily, to see how he was, and tell him she loved him. “Now I can’t, and never will be able to again,” said the grieving mother.
Leard talked about a number of routines and rituals that are now lost to her forever, including dinners at her home with her son, annual visits to family in PEI, and Christmas and birthday celebrations. “I will never have grandchildren,” said Leard, “as he was my only child.”
In addition to the overwhelming grief for the loss of her son, Leard expressed fear and discomfort in her own home. “Every time a car goes by. I get scared. I’m scared that they might get out and set my house on fire,” Leard told the court.
Leard was given time to read her victim impact statement on July 25, during a sentencing hearing for Sean Patterson, one of two men who has pled guilty to a role in Jamie Leard’s death.… Continue
Fake profiles, con artists and blackmail: Online scams proliferate in troubled times, says prof
A Sackville resident’s Facebook profile was recently duplicated, or spoofed, in an apparent failed attempt at a confidence scam.
The social media platform soon removed the fake account, after users reported the case of identity theft to Facebook.
But it’s just one of the online scams that proliferate during troubled times, according to an expert in identity theft and fraud.
“So often they’re playing on people’s emotions in their darkest hours,” said William Kresse, a professor at the Governors State University near Chicago, Ill.
Listen to the report from CHMA:
CHMA News has agreed not to disclose the identity of the man whose identity was fraudulently duplicated in the attempted scam.
The fake account appeared to be an exact double of the original, using his name, profile picture and banner photo: a picture of his grandchildren.
The spoofed account attempted to add at least some of the man’s contacts as friends. This reporter was among those who received a friend request. The spoofed account then initiated a chat using Facebook Messenger.
‘Gradient community outreach’
It started out with small talk, but the conversation quickly took a strange turn when the scamster asked about something called the “gradient community outreach support program.”
This kind of scam is well-documented online.
Typically the fake account claims that the intended victim is eligible for a large financial assistance grant worth tens of thousands of dollars, but they have to pay a fee. … Continue
Concerned citizens found Leard’s remains, even after information on whereabouts shared with police
The jury in the ongoing first degree murder trial of Henry Pottie heard evidence on Tuesday about how Jamie Leard’s body was eventually found by concerned citizens, and what happened to three rifles that were turned over to police in connection with his murder.
The trial which started on April 17 continued this week in a Moncton courtroom.
Pottie is accused of first degree murder of Jamie Leard, who was last seen on May 25, 2021, the day crown attorneys believe he was shot and killed in his home in Upper Cape.
A publication ban limits reporting on the trial to only what the jury hears, which excludes discussions in court over the acceptability of testimony and lines of questioning of witnesses.
On Tuesday the jury heard from Jeff Trenholm of Port Elgin, who testified that he found the remains of Jamie Leard on June 3, along with Leard’s friend and neighbour Shannon Wall.
Trenholm told the court he had learned of the whereabouts of Leard’s remains from Colt Leblanc, and had given the information to the police about 24 hours before he and Wall located Leard’s remains.
Trenholm said he had been trying to find out what happened to Leard, who went to school with his younger brother, and also grew up in Port Elgin. Under cross examination from defense lawyer Nathan Gorham, Trenholm said his motivation was simply to help in “finding this woman’s son,” in reference to Doris Leard, Jamie’s mother.… Continue
Pottie to face first degree murder charge alone
The trial of Henry Joseph Pottie began Monday in a Moncton courtroom. Pottie is accused of the first degree murder of Jamie Leard, a resident of Upper Cape, in May 2021.
Pottie’s co-accused, Sean Patterson, was also facing a first degree murder charge, but last Thursday entered a guilty plea to second degree murder. Patterson will be sentenced this summer on July 25.
On Monday, 39-year-old Pottie heard the charges against him and then pled not guilty. Pottie is represented by Saint John-Toronto lawyer Nathan Gorham and colleagues. The case is being prosecuted by New Brunswick crown attorney Maurice Blanchard.
Two courtrooms were filled with prospective jurors on Monday. Judge Robert Dysart said he would select 14 jurors and two alternates. Only 12 jurors will be able to deliberate and determine a verdict, but Dysart said he would appoint more due to the proposed length of the trial, which lawyers predict could last eight weeks.
First witnesses are expected to be called on Tuesday.
A publication ban is in effect for any evidence and information presented in court while the jury is or was not present. The ban will be lifted once the jury is sequestered for deliberations.
Several weeks of voir-dire hearings preceded the trial, in which the judge determined admissibility of evidence and witness testimony.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly said Pottie pled guilty.… Continue
RCMP release video stills in hopes of identifying Memramcook arson suspects
Sackville RCMP have released surveillance video stills in hopes of identifying two people suspected of setting fire to a residence last week in Memramcook.
At about 10am on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, the RCMP and Memramcook Fire Department responded to a report of a fire at a residence on Rue Principale in Memramcook. Police determined that the fire had been intentionally set by “two individuals who poured gasoline all over the house, and lit it on fire.”
No one was home at the time of the incident. The New Brunswick Fire Marshal’s office is assisting with the ongoing police investigation.
An RCMP news release describes the two suspects:
“The first individual is described as a male with a medium build, wearing a blue ball cap with a “Jordan” logo on the front, a light green hooded sweatshirt, orange pants, and dark sneakers. The second individual is described as being a female with a thin build, wearing a black hooded sweater, black pants, and white sneakers.”
Police are asking anyone with information on the incident or the suspects to contact the RCMP Sackville detachment at 506-364-5023. To remain anonymous, people can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or submit a tip at www.crimenb.ca.… Continue
Sackville man gets four years for cocaine and meth trafficking, assault and other charges
A 27-year-old Sackville man has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a series of charges stemming from an interprovincial drug trafficking investigation.
Taylor Allen Cole appeared in Moncton Law Courts for sentencing on Wednesday afternoon.
He previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges that included possession of cocaine and crystal meth for the purposes of trafficking, and assaulting a man by striking him with a shovel.
His sentencing follows what the RCMP called a “months-long inter-provincial drug trafficking investigation” in March.
That’s when police announced charges against Cole and seven other people from Sackville, Grande-Digue, Memramcook, and Amherst.
On Wednesday, provincial and federal crown prosecutors went over an agreed statement of facts about the case.
Cole sold cocaine by the ounce to undercover police on three occasions before a search warrant was executed on his home on Stephens Drive in Sackville.
Police found 80 grams of crystal meth, 26 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, more than $8,000 in cash, and items that included scales, baggies, eight cellphones, a cocaine press and a money counter.
They also found a .22 calibre handgun and two silencers, at a time when he was under a release order not to own or possess any firearms. … Continue
Adjournments and guilty pleas for charges stemming from February drug and weapons arrests
A Sackville man and woman appeared in Moncton provincial court on Monday on joint charges of possessing cocaine and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking. Colt Leblanc and Cheryl Trenholme are also charged with laundering over $35,000 believed to be obtained in the trafficking of illegal drugs.
The charges came after a cross border investigation involving the Nova Scotia RCMP, which saw eight people in Sackville, Amherst and Moncton arrested on various drug charges in February.
The matter was adjourned until August 2, to allow time for Trenholme and Leblanc to apply for legal aid representation. But it will likely be adjourned again in August to await disclosure, according to lawyer Michel DesNeiges, who was in court representing Leblanc on unrelated charges of speeding and driving with a suspended license.
Leblanc is already facing another set of joint drug charges with Carrie Ann Sears, stemming from search and seizures conducted by the Sackville RCMP on April 28, 2021. He and Sears pled not guilty to those charges and are due back in court on January 7, 2023 for a trial.
In September of 2021, Leblanc pled guilty to two counts of assault and obstruction of a police officer for events that took place in January 2021 near his former home on Upper Aboujagane Road. Leblanc’s home was later closed under the Safer Communities And Neighbourhoods act, a public complaints-driven civil proceeding that allows the government to evict people from their homes.… Continue
Two people facing drug charges after arrests in Dieppe and Frosty Hollow
Two people have been charged in relation to a police search that started in Moncton and led to Frosty Hollow, just outside of Sackville, on Tuesday.
James Earl Dewolfe and Samantha Wilbur appeared in court Wednesday and were both charged with possession of illegal drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Dewolfe was also charged with five counts of uttering threats and possession of ammunition contrary to a prohibition order. Wilbur was also charged with breaking and entering. The pair will be back in court Friday for a bail hearing.
Following the arrests on Tuesday, police say they executed search warrants at a business on Dieppe Boulevard and a residence on Route 106, in Frosty Hollow. Police seized quantities of what they believe is methamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl, as well as cannabis.
According to a police news release, Wilbur was arrested in Dieppe at about 7am on Tuesday, after reports of her breaking and entering into a residence on Lutz Street in Moncton. Police then learned that a second person involved in the incident was believed to be in the Dorchester area. The release also says that at about 9:30am, police located a 36-year-old man at a residence on Route 106 in Frosty Hollow, and arrested him at about 11:15am.… Continue