A suspected drug dealer relinquished his right to a preliminary hearing on Monday and now will proceed to a Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench trial.
James Joseph Sarasin, 38, of Red Deer was remanded in custody to appear again on April 4 in Queen’s Bench to set a date for a trial by justice alone.
Sarasin appeared in court on closed-circuit television.
He is charged with two counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of money alleged to have been derived from the proceeds of crime.
Sarasin, who hasn’t had a bail review hearing, could spend several more months in custody awaiting a trial if he doesn’t make bail.
However, the court, if it decides to deny Sarasin bail, would then be obliged to find the earliest date possible to conduct a trial because of his continued custody.
Red Deer City RCMP executed a search warrant on Nov. 22 at a residence in the 5800 block of 58A Street in Red Deer.
Seven people were arrested inside but only two were charged.
Police seized crack cocaine, morphine, money and drug paraphernalia.