Compton hopes to have multiple charges transferred to P.E.I. court

MONCTON - A Prince Edward Island man intends to plead guilty to robbing the Aulac Big Stop while his co-accused will undergo a psychiatric assessment.
Jonathan Compton appeared in Moncton provincial court Monday and asked to have his charges transferred to P.E.I. The only way that can be done is if he agrees to plead guilty once they are transferred.
Co-accused William Sturgess appeared in court represented by defence lawyer Michel DesNeiges, who asked for a five-day psychiatric assessment to determine his client's fitness to stand trial.
"I'm not sure if Mr. Sturgess fully appreciates the nature of these proceedings," said DesNeiges.
Both men are in custody after being denied bail and both will return to court June 15.
The pair are charged with robbing the Aulac Big Stop the morning of April 12, setting a Honda Accord on fire near Aulac and obstruction of justice. They are also accused of committing offences in P.E.I., including robbery, break and enter and theft.
Sturgess is from Montague and Compton is from Peters Road. Both are 27.They were picked up by police near the burning car after what police described as a day-long crime spree.
It started in the Wood Islands area on P.E.I. where the men are accused of breaking into a number of cottages and stealing a Honda Accord. The men had hoped to take the car to see exotic dancers in Dieppe, N.B.
Police say the men robbed the Read's Corner Esso in Summerside and took cash, cigarettes and chocolate bars for the road trip.
When they arrived in New Brunswick, the two got lost.
Sturgess and Compton then attempted to rob the Irving Big Stop in Aulac, N.B., but police say that was foiled when a trucker entered the store.
The stolen Honda Accord broke down and police believe Sturgess and Compton pushed the vehicle into a ditch and set it on fire.
Police were responding to the attempted robbery in Aulac when they got the call about the burning car.
After discovering the burning vehicle matched the description of the vehicle from the robbery, police arrested Sturgess and Compton as they walked away from the scene.
Compton has hired Charlottetown defence lawyer Peter Ghiz.