The woman accused of sending packages containing white powder to five Saskatoon businesses while she was in custody on separate criminal harassment charges has been set to stand trial in May.
Alexa Emerson, previously known as Amanda Totchek, was remanded on charges of public mischief and uttering threats to cause bodily harm in connection to the incident on Nov. 29, 2016, when she allegedly hired two unsuspecting people to deliver the threatening packages.
She also faces charges of criminal harassment, public mischief and false information after threatening videos were sent to people the previous month. Emerson entered not guilty pleas on Dec. 6 and is expected to stand trial on both sets of charges.
After Emerson’s first court appearance, defence lawyer Brian Pfefferle said it appears the Crown believes there is a connection between the mail scare and the criminal harassment allegations. He later said there’s a suggestion that the buildings that received the threatening packages are “places that (Emerson) had some relationship to.”
Pfefferle also called the case “a complicated domestic situation” and told reporters that his client says she is being framed.
On Friday, he said Emerson has chosen to remain in custody for her own safety. She has not sought a bail hearing since she turned herself in on the criminal harassment charges — the same day the packages were delivered.
However, Pfefferle said things could change between now and May.
“There may be a plan developed to have her reside out of the province. There’s certain options that might be available to ensure that there’s nothing going to occur in terms of her personal safety.”
The alleged victims were in Saskatoon provincial court on Friday. They said they are thankful Emerson in custody, but added that it still doesn’t make them feel completely safe.
Emerson has a history of criminal harassment that includes impersonating her ex-boyfriend in threatening letters she sent while in custody at the Pine Grove Correctional Centre in 2014. She pleaded guilty to criminal harassment, fraud and uttering threats and was sentenced to time served and 15 months of probation in June 2015.
bmcadam@postmedia.com
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