Second accused released on bail

A Quebec man facing drug and weapon offences was released from custody last Friday after posting $20,000 in cash bail and agreeing to abide by a host of conditions.

Maxime Brodeur, 35, of Saint-Sauveur-des-Monts, also elected to be tried on the charges by a Supreme Court judge and jury and was assigned a date of Sept. 18 for a preliminary hearing.

Brodeur and co-accused Stephanie Renaud, 37, are both charged with two counts of possession and a single count of possession for the purpose of trafficking involving marijuana and cocaine.

Hey are also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, careless use of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon knowing it was prohibited, unauthorized possession of a weapon in a vehicle and possession of a restricted weapon with ammunition.

They were charged after being pulled over by RCMP near Baddeck on Feb. Inside the vehicle, police uncovered some 18 pounds of marijuana along with quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. Also seized was a loaded 9-mm handgun.

Renaud was released earlier this week after posting $10,000 in cash bail.

Among the conditions for both accused is that they have no contact with each other and they report, once a week by phone, to RCMP in Baddeck.

Renaud is scheduled to enter pleas on the charges March 9.