A man accused of allegedly holding a girl captive at a remote northern Saskatchewan cabin had another show cause hearing scheduled on Jan. 11 in Meadow Lake Provincial Court.
Aaron Gardiner, 42, has been in custody since his arrest in April 2020 after he allegedly held a girl captive for four days at a remote cabin across from Île-à-la-Crosse Lake. A specialized RCMP tactical unit was flown to the isolated cabin by two military CH-146 Griffon helicopters to rescue the girl and arrest Gardiner.
He was charged with unlawful confinement, assault, overcoming resistance, uttering threats, resisting arrest, possessing a firearm for a dangerous purpose, use of a firearm in commission of an indictable offence, proceeds of crime, and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Three months after his arrest, police say more alleged victims came forward and in July 2020, they additionally charged Gardiner with four counts of sexual assault, three counts of forcible confinement, uttering threats, assault, reckless discharge of a firearm, use of a firearm in commission of an offence, obstruction and breach of an undertaking.
There have been numerous delays and adjournments in Gardiner’s case because he has gone through about five lawyers. Gardiner has either fired the lawyers or they have withdrawn from representing him.
Gardiner is now scheduled to appear in Meadow Lake Provincial Court on Feb. 22 for another show cause hearing.
The charges against Gardiner haven't been proven in court.
Île-à-la-Crosse is about 380 kilometres north of Prince Albert.
