A local area man plans to launch a constitutional challenge to Wildlife Act charges resulting from Operation Buckeye, where Sustainable Resource Development charged ten individuals with 59 charges in 2011. Proceedings will resume in St. Paul Provincial Court on Thursday.
Casey Arnold Makokis pled not guilty to hunting at night and another Wildlife Act charge in December and requested more time to set a trial date last week.
Proceedings were adjourned from Dec. 15, when the presiding judge had told counsel to determine the amount of time needed for the aboriginal hunting rights defence and to come back to set a trial date.
Last week, an agent requested the lawyer on record for the defendant be removed, citing anticipation of the defence taking a significant amount of time. Crown prosecutor Randy Brandt told the judge he understood the defence would include a constitutional challenge including seeking to strike down legislation. He recommended adjourning proceedings to February.
Makokis told the court a Saddle Lake band councillor was supposed to be present to indicate to him whether the band will provide financial assistance, but the councillor was not present.
Judge Don Demetrick advised Makokis to find out if the band will finance his defence by this week. Demetrick said the charges have been to court 12 times. The court will not wait months for the band to approve finances, he said, and advised Makokis to return with an answer on Thursday.
Five men have pled not guilty to Operation Buckeye charges and trial dates have been set. Three men pled guilty and received fines. The Crown dropped charges against one man and another had proceedings adjourned to Jan. 19 for plea.
