Coke trafficking scheduled for trial

Two Quebec men accused of selling cocaine in Yorkton have pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried in provincial court.

Trevonn Morlese (23) and Weyane Nega (25) were arrested January 19 following the execution of a search warrant by RCMP on a Yorkton residence. A large amount of cash was seized from the residence as well as marijuana, cocaine and alleged evidence of trafficking activity.

Both men face one count each of possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, trafficking cocaine, possession of proceeds of crime over five thousand dollars, trafficking the proceeds of crime over five thousand dollars and money laundering.

Morlese was released on $3,000 bail January 26 with conditions including that he must reside in Quebec. Nega was released the following day on the same amount and conditions.

At a hearing March 28, Saskatoon attorney Brian Pfefferle entered the not guilty pleas by telephone on behalf of his client Nega, and Morlese, who is represented by Daniel Song, a lawyer who has practices in both Alberta and British Columbia.

Shane Wagner, on behalf of the federal Crown asked for a three-day combined trial to accommodate expert witnesses he intends to call.

Pfefferle told the court the first available date for Song would be the end of November prompting Judge Patrick Reis to raise the question of delay. The Supreme Court set new guidelines last year in the case of R. v. Jordan requiring courts to move cases through the system within 18 months from arrest to sentencing.

Pfefferle agreed to waive delay between the court’s first available dates in early October and the trial dates of November 28, 29 and 30.