An Eckville man facing more than 80 child sexual-exploitation charges turned down an opportunity on Wednesday to have a judge consider his release from prison.
Christopher Juneau, 35, was scheduled to have a judge review whether he could be released from prison while his case works its way through court. Under Canadian law, those accused of crimes who remain in custody for 90 days are eligible for a detention review.
Juneau, who does not yet have a lawyer, waived his right to a hearing in Red Deer Court of Queen’s Bench on Wednesday until his next court appearance on June 6. At that time, an application to have the court order a lawyer to appear on Juneau’s behalf will go before a judge.
Juneau has told court previously that his request for legal help was turned down by the Legal Aid Society because of his prior income.
Juneau has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 10 by Sylvan Lake RCMP after Australian police tipped off the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team’s internet child exploitation unit about a suspect involved in trading child pornography images online.
Investigators searched homes in Eckville and Fox Creek associated with the suspect and recovered half a million photos and videos.