Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for a Red Deer man accused of committing two violent attacks late last year.
Tyler Alexander Coombs, 30, was arrested in January by Red Deer City RCMP investigating allegations that someone had forced his way into two different homes and attacked the occupants.
Police allege that Coombs was armed with a rifle when he broke into one home on Dec. 13 and sexually assaulted the woman inside.
Investigators further allege that he had forced his way into a different home on Nov. 24, held the man inside against his will and attacked him with a propane tank.
In Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday, represented by an agent for his lawyer, Coombs asked to be tried by judge alone in the Court of Queen’s Bench.
The preliminary hearings were requested by defence counsel Craig Paterson to determine whether the Crown’s evidence is strong enough to go to trial on each of the two matters, which are being handled separately.
The first hearing, which will examine evidence connected with the Nov. 24, 2013, incident, is set for Nov. 26 of this year.
A second hearing, concerning the charges arising from the Dec. 13, 2013, incident, is set for Dec. 5.
Denied bail in February, Coombs remains in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre pending the outcome of criminal proceedings against him.