FREDERICTON -- A New Brunswick Mountie who complained he wasn't allowed to smoke medicinal marijuana for post-traumatic stress disorder while in uniform pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of assaulting two RCMP officers.
Cpl. Ron Francis is accused of assaulting an RCMP constable and a superintendent in Oromocto on Jan 12.
Francis also pleaded not guilty in provincial court in Fredericton to a charge stemming from the same date that alleges he breached an undertaking not to possess or consume alcohol or non-prescribed drugs.
A trial date for the three charges has been set for July 15.
Francis is also set to stand trial on September after he previously pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two other RCMP officers in Fredericton on Dec. 6.
In that case, the RCMP said they became concerned for his well-being when they found him on a downtown Fredericton street. The city's Public Safety Department said he had to be subdued with a stun gun.
A three-day trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 3.
The RCMP is also seeking an order to prevent Francis from having possession of firearms or other weapons, which will be heard June 9.
The court was told that Francis has a crossbow that he uses for hunting.
Defence lawyer T.J. Burke said he could offer a constitutional argument because Francis is aboriginal and has a right to be able to hunt for food and livelihood.
"That is something we'll have to look at," Burke said outside the court. "If we feel that it is appropriate, we will notify the court."
Francis is on leave from the RCMP.
