Third defendant charged in airport meth bust
Adrienne Susan Dickison, 32, now charged jointly with Matthew William Harris, 45, and Robert “Rob” Louis Michaud, 52, with drug possession for purpose of trafficking
A third suspect has been added to a joint drug charge arising from a significant meth bust at the Fredericton International Airport last month.
Matthew William Harris, 46, of Main Street in Meductic, and Robert “Rob” Louis Michaud, 52, of no fixed address but formerly of Grand Falls, were arrested at the airport in Lincoln on Nov. 23 and charged Nov. 24 with possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking and personal possession of cocaine.
The Woodstock Police Force issued a news release last month reporting that the arrests and charges were the result of a police investigation that began in April and involved other law-enforcement agencies.
The probe focused on the drug trade in the Town of Woodstock and surrounding communities, it said.
The police news release said as a result of the arrests and a search, officers seized 8.8 pounds of suspect crystal meth, as well as a sum of cash.
Though Harris and Michaud were initially detained in custody pending bail hearings, a federal Crown prosecutor withdrew objections to their release, and they were freed, subject to conditions.
Among those conditions was to appear in Fredericton provincial court as required.
They were back in court Monday, scheduled to elect mode of trial and enter pleas.
However, prosecutor Derek Weaver noted a replacement information, revising the charges to add another defendant to the trafficking allegation: Adrienne Susan Dickison, 32, of Route 122 in Dow Settlement, near Meductic.
The Woodstock police release noted that when Harris and Michaud were arrested, officers also arrested a woman, though she hadn’t been charged initially.
Duty counsel Michael Mallory told court Monday that Harris had retained defence lawyer Alex Pate, who was seeking an adjournment to obtain and review disclosure.
Furthermore, Mallory said, Michaud was in the process of applying for legal aid. Dickinson said she’s seeking private counsel as well.
Judge Scott Brittain set the matter over to Jan. 15.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.