Legal efforts continue to resolve the complex case against an Eckville man facing more than 80 child sexual-exploitation charges.
Christopher Juneau, 35, was in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday where his defence lawyer and the Crown prosecutor gave Judge David Plosz an update on the progress of the case.
Juneau has been in custody since his arrest 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.
It is also alleged Juneau sexually assaulted at least eight child victims dating back to 2013. He is facing multiple charges of sexual assault, sexual contact with a child and sexual counselling of a child, as well as a single count of administering a noxious substance.
He has also been charged with dozens of child pornography-related offences, as well as numerous counts of voyeurism and distributing or selling child porn.
A special prosecutor out of Calgary assigned to the case and defence lawyer Robin Snider are trying to resolve the charges.
The special prosecutor’s first draft of the document outlining the facts of the case has run to 41 pages and includes more than 100 attachments, said Snider.
“We do still need some time,” she told the judge.
It is has been difficult for Juneau and his defence lawyer to discuss the case because he is being kept in 23-hour lockdown in Edmonton Remand Centre. Juneau only has access to a phone during his hour out of cells, which takes place at 2 a.m.
To make it easier for Snider to meet with her client, the judge ordered Juneau be brought to Red Deer Remand Centre a week before his next court date on Oct. 30.
“You’ve got a lot to go over with him,” said Plosz to Snider. “It’s far better if he’s in Red Deer Remand Centre.”