BY KEITH LACEY
It took $70,000 in sureties to secure his freedom, but bail has been granted to the first man to have a bail hearing after several men were arrested in an alleged cocaine trafficking ring in Greater Sudbury two weeks ago.
James Peterson, 50, was charged with conspiracy to traffic in cocaine after 14 people were arrested after police confiscated more than two kilograms of cocaine, a large stash of cash, other street drugs and Hells Angels paraphenalia.
After a full-day bail hearing earlier this week, Justice of the Peace Paula Nicholls agreed to release Peterson on bail until his trial under strict conditions.
Police allege several Greater Sudbury men were involved in a ring where cocaine was brought to this jurisdiction through other areas of Canada, specifically through the Hells Angels organization in Sherbrooke, Que.
A bail hearing for Stephane Valence Rodrigue, 34, and Christian Chenard, 33, both of Sherbrooke, began Wednesday morning at the Sudbury courthouse.
Four members of the Greater Sudbury Police tactical unit were in the courtroom for the bail hearing. Police allege Rodrigue and Chenard are affiliated with the Sherbrooke Hells Angels chapter.
The bail hearing, being held before Justice of the Peace Diane Lafleur, continues today.
Chenard is being assisted by a French-language interpreter during the bail hearing.
Lafleur imposed a ban on publication of all evidence presented at the bail hearing.
The lead investigator from the Greater Sudbury Police was on the stand for most of the day Wednesday.
Chenard is being represented at the bail hearing by Sudbury lawyer Denis Michel, while Rodrigue is being represented by local counsel Andrew Buttazzoni.
Lafleur is expected to make a ruling on whether to release Rodrigue and Chenard or keep them in custody until trial late today or early next week.
Peterson's father Bob, 70, posted a surety of $40,000. Another woman posted an additional surety of $25,000, while Peterson himself had to post a surety of $5,000.
If Peterson breaks any conditions of his bail, he could forfeit the entire $70,000 surety.
Conditions of Peterson's bail include not having any contact in any way with any of the other men arrested in the drug bust, as well as four other people. He must not consume or purchase any illicit drugs or communicate with any person known to consume illicit drugs. He must notify Greater Sudbury Police of any change of address or employment and must respect a curfew between 11 pm and 8 am daily, except when accompanied by one of his two sureties.
Peterson must also turn over any passport he might possess and he's restricted from owning or possessing any prohibited weapon or firearm. He's not allowed to possess any cell phone or pager and he must not leave his residence for any reason at any time without notifying his sureties of his plans.
Several other people charged in connection with this case will be having bail hearings later in the month.
Jason Shawn McGonagle, 29, Michael Scott Anderson, 29; Torrie John Dunlop, 29; Max Ellard Hubert, 59,, Robert Edward Dominelli, 32; and Scott Christopher Stanley, 30, all of Greater Sudbury, are each charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine and conspiracy to possess cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Stanley is also charged with four counts of conspiracy to traffic the street drug GHB, conspiracy to traffic magic mushrooms, conspiracy to traffic Ecstasy, conspiracy to traffic marijuana, breach of probation and profitting from the proceeds of crime.
Also charged are Michel Vallieres, 38, of Sherbrooke; Gregory Scott, 27, of Toronto; and Mark Boulton, 29, of Barrie.
Police allege Vallieres is also are involved with the Sherbrooke chapter of the Hells Angels.
The 14-month investigation targeted cocaine traffickers in and around Greater Sudbury. During the course of the investigation, over two kilograms (4.5 pounds) of cocaine with a street value of $200,000 was seized. Also seized were 1,700 Ecstasy pills with a street value of $68,000, marijuana with a street value of $15,000, over $18,000 in cash.
The arrests relate to activities dating from November of 2003 to December of 2004 in Sudbury as well as British Columbia, southern and Northern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.
Search warrants were executed in Toronto, Barrie, Sudbury and Sherbrooke.
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