Drug-trafficking suspects beg to be released
Kyle MacKenzie Ingraham, 28, of Fredericton, and Katie Jaclyn Stewart, 40, of Geary, charged with possessing meth, cocaine, fentanyl and Dilaudid
A man and a woman arrested on drug-trafficking charges pleaded with a judge Thursday to release them from custody, but he said once the Crown objected to their release, he had no choice but to hold them.
Kyle MacKenzie Ingraham, 28, of Capitol Manor in Fredericton, and Katie Jaclyn Stewart, 40, of Colburne Drive in Geary, both appeared by phone in Fredericton provincial court Thursday.
They’re charged by the Fredericton Police Force with possession of meth and cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a stolen Honda Civic belonging to Joel White, and careless storage of shotgun shells, all alleged to have occurred Wednesday.
Stewart also faces a related count of possession of Dilaudid for the purpose of trafficking, while Ingraham is accused of possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime, namely less than $5,000 in cash.
Furthermore, Ingraham faces March 5 counts of obstructing a city police officer and breach of probation.
Crown prosecutor Nina Johnsen objected to the release of both defendants, and Judge Cameron Gunn remanded them pending bail hearings scheduled for Monday.
During their calls to court, the pair professed their innocence and asked to be released right away.
“I have a mother I can stay with,” Ingraham said. “None of this stuff belongs to me.”
“Or me!” Stewart called out from the background during Ingraham’s call.
Ingraham told the judge the illegal items seized when they were arrested belonged to “Ian Ross,” but there was no mention of that name in any charge before the court Thursday.
Stewart told the court she’d been in trouble in the past but had been doing well as of late and had her own home.
But Gunn explained that once the Crown objects to a suspect’s release, the court has no choice but to remand them pending a bail hearing. There’s no discretion for a judge to intervene, he said, and the only possible recourse would be if the prosecution changes its position on release.
Johnsen advised the Crown wasn’t changing its mind on the objection to release.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.