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A Sydney man has been sentenced to serve a two-year-six-month jail sentence having pleaded guilty to a host of offences. Christian James Nichol, 41, was sentenced on five counts of breaching court orders, three counts of theft, two counts of possession of stolen property, and single counts of break and enter and illegal drug possession. In addition, Nichol was also ordered to pay two restitution orders – one for $248 and the other for $30.99 – for items stolen from two retail outlets. He was also ordered to submit a DNA sample to the national registry and is banned from possessing weapons for five years. Nichol is now scheduled to return to provincial court Nov. 28 for a trial on charges of robbery, assault with a weapon, uttering a threat, auto theft, mischief and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.  

A Halifax man already facing drug trafficking charges in Cape Breton now face three additional offences. Robert Patrick Murphy, 52, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine after his arrest in Sydney May 26. He was released on conditions and assigned a plea date of June 30. He is now facing additional offences of failing to remain at the scene of an accident, dangerous driving and breaching a court order by failing to abide by a curfew. The offences are alleged to have occurred May 20 on Highway 105 in Bras d’Or. Murphy is alleged to have crashed into another vehicle that resulted in the car being forced off the road and into a ditch. He continues his release on conditions and is scheduled to enter pleas to the new charges July 5. Murphy is also facing a host of offences in Dartmouth provincial court including possession for the purpose of trafficking, four counts of possession of a firearm while prohibited, four counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and three counts of possession of weapon for a dangerous purpose. He is scheduled to stand trial in Dartmouth provincial court Oct. 20-21. Read more Charges dismissed after witnesses fail to attend; Cape Breton court report for June 7, 2022 Accused facing additional charges; Cape Breton court report for June 6, 2022

Charges dismissed after witnesses fail to attend; Cape Breton court report for June 7, 2022

Accused facing additional charges; Cape Breton court report for June 6, 2022

A Sydney Mines man facing charges including theft of copper wire has been released on conditions. Norman John MacAskill, 30, of Demarco Street, is charged with two counts of breaching court orders and single counts of theft of copper wire, break, enter and theft, and possession of instruments that could be used in a break-in (a grinder, cutting disc and linesman climbing harness.) The offences are alleged to have occurred June 4 in Sydney Mines and relate to a break-in at a lumber business and a Nova Scotia Power office. Among the conditions of his release, MacAskill is to live in Sydney MInes, have no contact with two people, he is not to possess any weapons, refrain from alcohol and drugs not prescribed to him and is to abide by a curfew. A plea is now expected July 7.

One of three people charged with cocaine trafficking has been released on conditions. Shiquawn Upshaw-Paris, 26, of Halifax, is charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking in oxycodone and possession of money obtained by crime over $5,000. Among the conditions of his release, Upshaw-Paris to live at a Windsor Street, Halifax, address, abstain from alcohol and drugs not prescribed him, report by phone once a week by phone and abide by a curfew. He is now scheduled to enter pleas July 4. He was one of three people charged with trafficking offences after an investigation by police. Cape Breton Regional Police seized 100 grams of cocaine, prescription drugs and thousands in cash. Upshaw-Paris was arrested June 6 at Sydney hotel from where officers seized more than $10,000 cash and hundreds of oxycodone pills. The search of Main Street, Sydney, home resulted in the seizure of an additional 100 grams of cocaine, hydromorphone pills, cash and other drug paraphernalia.  Also charged are Sydney residents Courtney Reid-Boone, 24, and Adam Fraser MacKrous, 26. Both individuals are charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking in hydromorphone and possession of money obtained by crime. Reid-Boone faces an additional charge of trafficking in cocaine along with three breaches of court orders. Reid-Boone continues to be on remand and is scheduled to have a bail hearing June 16. She was sentenced March to complete a 24-month probation period as part of her sentence on nine counts of breaching court orders, two counts of evading police and single counts of possession of stolen property (a licence plate), assault with a weapon (a vehicle), possession of cocaine, dangerous driving and possession of ecstasy. The offences occurred between November 2020 and May 2021 in Sydney. She was also prohibited from driving for two years. MacKrous is also on remand and is scheduled for a bail hearing June 21. He also faces an unrelated offence of assault that is alleged to have occurred in July 2020.

A plea date has been set for a Reserve Mines man charged with sexual assault. Daryll Alfred Leo Boudreau, 43, of Neville Street, is alleged to have committed the offence in September 2019 in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. Boudreau, who continues his release on conditions, is now scheduled to enter a plea July 6.

A plea date has been set for a Wagmatcook man facing driving and weapon offences. Coady James Isadore, 34, is charged three counts of assault with a weapon (bear spray), three counts of mischief relating to property damage, two counts of assaulting police officers, and single counts of theft, impaired driving, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, robbery (relating to a vehicle), break and enter and refusing a breathalyzer demand. The offences are alleged to have occurred May 22 in Grand Narrows. Isadore has been released on conditions that include he have no contact with four people, he is to abstain from alcohol and drugs, not appear intoxicated in public, report to police once a week by phone, he is not to be in the front seat of any vehicle and he is to abide by a curfew. Isadore is now scheduled to enter pleas July 7.

A provincial court trial date has been set for a Sydney man charged with committing an indecent act. Teddy Sales Chettor, 28, is alleged to have committed the offences Nov. 3, 2021, by allegedly masturbating inside the McConnell Library in Sydney. Chettoor continues his release on conditions that include he stay away from the library and staff and he not attend areas where young people, under 16, are likely to gather, schools, parks, and playgrounds. He has entered a not guilty plea and is now scheduled to stand trial Feb. 1, 2023.

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