An Estevan man and woman already had a preliminary hearing set in three months for conspiracy to traffic cocaine. Now, thanks to charges announced last night by the Estevan Police Service, they'll be in front of a judge on other, very serious, charges.

Last night the Estevan Police Service announced Andrew James Young and Lindy Erin Darling had each been charged with multiple offences.

Young was charged with sexual interference, sexual assault, assault, forcible confinement, administering a noxious substance, and uttering threats.

The Criminal Code of Canada defines sexual interference as "Every person who, for a sexual purpose, touches, directly or indirectly, with a part of the body or with an object, any part of the body of a person under the age of 16 years."

Darling was charged with sexual assault, assault, and forcible confinement.

Young and Darling have appeared before a justice of the peace, and were released on conditions. They have an appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on April 19 for the charges announced yesterday.

On May 1, 2020, Young and Darling were named as two of four people charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, following an investigation that began in January 2019.

They are scheduled to appear next in court as co-defendants for a preliminary hearing on June 17 for the conspiracy charges. That will also be in Estevan Provincial Court.