A fugitive wanted in Saskatchewan on marijuana production and trafficking charges has been arrested in Alberta.
On September 7, 2010 the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) intercepted Luc Bernard D鈥橝badie with a shipment of pot at the Goodlands, Manitoba border crossing with the United States.
D鈥橝badie attained nationwide notoriety the next day when police executed a warrant on an abandoned theatre in Grenfell, Saskatchewan where they found a sophisticated grow-op.
Inside the theatre, Broadview RCMP found approximately 416 marijuana plants in various stages of growth and 10 pounds of cultivated and packaged product. Investigators reported the operation used a sophisticated, automated hydoponics system.
D鈥橝badie and a co-accused, Erika Miljkovic of Grenfell, were both charged with production of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
D鈥橝badie made bail and subsequently disappeared.
After the accused was picked up on November 5 in the Edmonton area on numerous traffic-related charges, RCMP executed the Saskatchewan warrant and D鈥橝badie was scheduled to appear in Yorkton Provincial Court by video from the Edmonton Remand Centre.
Appearing before Judge Ross Green November 13, D鈥橝badie refused to answer to his name, a tactic reminiscent of a movement known sometimes as Freemen-on-the-Land, or just Freemen, a loose affiliation of individuals who call themselves 鈥淣atural Persons,鈥� 鈥淪overeign Citizens鈥� or 鈥淟iving Souls.鈥� Similar language is prominent on D鈥橝badie鈥檚 鈥淕olden Cities Group鈥� website, one project of which is an attempt to solicit investments in an 鈥渆co-farm鈥� outside of Edmonton.
Proponents of the Freemen philosophy contend statute law is contractual and only applies to a person if they choose to be governed by it.
During his Yorkton court appearance, D鈥橝badie refused to recognize the jurisdiction of the Court attempting to shut down arguments by federal prosecutor Shane Wagner to have the judge order the defendant returned to Yorkton.
Green simply had the court clerk shut off the audio on the video feed. Ultimately, the judge ruled he did not have jurisdiction to make the order deferring to the Alberta courts.
D鈥橝badie appeared in Alberta provincial court at St. Albert on November 16 where he was granted release on $7,500 bail. He was unable to pay the amount and is currently remanded in Edmonton until his scheduled trial date of February 8.
There is currently no future Yorkton court date scheduled on the Saskatchewan charges.
