Hearing set on drug and weapon offences

SYDNEY — A preliminary hearing date has been set for four Sydney residents facing drug and weapon offences.

Charged are Brent Michael MacSween, 32, of no fixed address; Matthew Xavier Ross, 32, of Collier Drive, Coxheath; Kassidy Nicole Richard, 25, of Kings Road, Sydney Forks; and Colin Martin Graham, 28, of Moxham Drive, Sydney.

All four are charged with four counts of drug possession - involving marijuana, shatter, hashish and codeine. They also face a single count of possession for the purpose of trafficking in cocaine. The four also face two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon without a licence (an ASP baton and brass knuckles) and possession of a prohibited weapon (two large knives).

The offences are alleged to have occurred April 3 in Sydney.

MacSween is facing separate charges of five counts of breaching court orders including failing to abstain from drugs and alcohol while Graham is charged with possession of a weapon while prohibited.

An unendorsed arrest remains outstanding for MacSween.

The accused have elected trial in Supreme Court by judge and jury and were assigned a preliminary hearing date of Jan. 24.

Also, they entered not guilty pleas to the weapons offences and a trial on those charges will also be held Jan. 24.