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Numerous bail conditions set for Waters

Joseph Edwin Waters was released from custody after a bail hearing in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday. Waters is facing four charges, from March 15 to April 5.
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Joseph Edwin Waters was released from custody after a bail hearing in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday.

Waters is facing four charges, from March 15 to April 5. They include trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of property under $5,000 that were the proceeds of crime.

Federal Crown prosecutor Scott Moffat was not opposed to his release, provided certain conditions were met. Judge Lane Wiegers agreed, and released Waters on a litany of conditions.

Much of it hinged on Waters’ ability to get a wired telephone line installed by Friday that could be hooked up to an electronic monitoring system, as Waters would be released on electronic monitoring. Until that is set up, he is not allowed to leave the building of his residence 24 hours per day.

Waters must also submit to searches without a warrant, have no firearms or other weapons, and carry a paper copy of his recognizance on his person when out and about. He is allowed a singular cellular phone for work and legal purposes.

He must provide detailed cellular phone bills, including details of text messages. He was ordered to not use any alcohol or non-prescription drugs, nor is he to attend any bars or liquor stores.

Waters’ next appearance in court is scheduled for May 14.

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Also on Monday, Francisco Javier Ruiz Casas pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol level in excess of .08. The charges stem from when he was pulled over by police on May 14, 2017.

Casas blew .10 and .09, just over the legal limit of .08, or 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

He was alone in the vehicle, but had been travelling at a higher rate of speed. However, there was no speeding charge.

He also pleaded guilty to a failure to attend court charge.

Casas’ defence attorney John Goby asked for the mandatory minimum penalty in this case, and Wiegers agreed. Goby noted that the failure to attend may have resulted from confusion as to whether, he, the lawyer, would have attended on the date in question, or whether Casas would attend.

Wiegers imposed a fine of $1000 plus a $300 victim surcharge. Casas was given a one-year driving prohibition and his license was suspended. He also had a $100 fine for failure to appear and a $30 victim surcharge for that.