LLOYDMINSTER – A man accused of illegally importing tobacco products and numerous weapons offences is back in custody after being granted bail.
Richard David Bear, 32, of Battleford, and Larissa Montana, 24, of Lloydminster, had court appearances in Lloydminster Circuit Court Jan. 10. Montana failed to appear and a bench warrant to hold was issued. If she fails to appear again on Feb. 14 the judge may choose to activate the warrant for her arrest. Bear is also back in court on Feb. 14 for a bail hearing.
Bear and Montana previously had show cause hearings in Lloydminster court on Sept. 20 and Sept. 13 respectively. Federal Crown Prosecutor Vic Findlater told the court in August that he was opposed to Bear and Montana’s release on tertiary grounds. Tertiary grounds means detention is required to maintain confidence in the administration of justice based on four factors including the strength of the Crown’s case, the seriousness of the offence, the circumstances surrounding the offence, and the potential length of a jail sentence.
Maidstone RCMP Roving Traffic Unit arrested Bear and Montana following a traffic stop on Range Road 3230 near Maidstone on Aug. 25, 2020, and charged them with unlawfully importing tobacco into Saskatchewan, possession of unstamped tobacco products, four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking (methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and Buprenorphine), possession of currency under $5,000 obtained by an offence, possession of identity documents of another person, and four firearms-related offences. Montana was additionally charged with obstruction of a peace officer for giving a false name and trying to hide evidence. In another incident, Montana is charged with possession of property under $5,000 obtained by crime.
The charges against Bear and Montana haven't been proven in court.
