Suspicious packages, bomb threat suspect Alexa Emerson gets fourth lawyer

Alexa Emerson, also known as Amanda Totchek, is seen here in this photo from Facebook.

The woman accused of sending suspicious packages and making bomb threats in Saskatoon has a new lawyer.

Defence lawyer Patrick McDougall is Alexa Emerson’s fourth lawyer in the case after three other lawyers stepped down since she was charged in November.

Brian Pfefferle withdrew from the case last month after his office received one of the suspicious packages, and her next legal counsel, Morris Bodnar, stepped down shortly after taking over. He said he was worried the case may last longer than he initially anticipated. Lisa Watson removed herself from the case last week, citing a conflict of interest. She said she previously represented one of the witnesses in the case.

Emerson, who also goes by Amanda Totchek, is facing 83 charges in total and the Crown has told CTV Saskatoon there are 250 witnesses involved. She’s charged in connection with at least eight bomb threats and the delivery of more than a dozen suspicious packages over the last few months. She’s also charged with criminal harassment, public mischief and providing false information related to an incident in October in which she’s accused of sending videos depicting herself being bound, assaulted and threatened in order to mislead a police officer, court documents show.

Emerson has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her. None of the allegations have been proven in court.

She’s scheduled back in court for a bail hearing on May 30th.

---with files from Jennifer Jellicoe and Kevin Menz