Photo credit: Josh Hall/rdnewsNOW

By Sheldon Spackman

2026 Trial

Trial dates set for man charged in local drug and firearms bust

Sep 16, 2025 | 2:06 PM

Trial dates have now been scheduled for one of two people initially charged in a drug and firearms seizure in Blackfalds two years ago.

Chad Daniel Wickett, 33, is scheduled for trial in Red Deer Court of King’s Bench from Oct. 20-23, 2026.

Wickett’s co-accused, Candace Danielle Payne, 42, of Red Deer, saw all of her charges withdrawn on April 26, 2024, the day the pair were previously scheduled for a preliminary hearing.

Wickett, however, failed to appear, so a warrant was issued for his arrest and his counsel withdrew their services, causing a delay in getting a new preliminary hearing scheduled. It was eventually scheduled for June 30, 2025.

Payne was facing two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime, selling unpackaged tobacco, and multiple firearm offences.

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According to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), Crown counsel must only proceed with prosecutions where two conditions are met: there is a reasonable prospect of conviction, and the prosecution is in the public interest. In this case, according to the PPSC, the Crown determined that the prosecution against Payne no longer met this criteria and withdrew the charges.

It was in March 2023, when Blackfalds RCMP say they began an investigation into drug trafficking in the Blackfalds and Red Deer areas.

As a result of the investigation, on May 2, 2023, with assistance from members in Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, and Police Dog Services, officers conducted two search warrants in the Glendale area of Red Deer and allegedly seized:

• 28.9 grams of suspected Methamphetamine
• 13.5 grams of suspected Fentanyl
• 2 firearms (one loaded)

“This investigation saw GIS units from three RCMP detachments working collaboratively to bring things to their successful conclusion,“ said Sgt. Brent Dueck, acting Detachment Commander, Blackfalds RCMP.

RCMP originally charged Chad Wickett and Candace Payne with:

• Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x2)
• Possession of the proceeds of crime
• Selling unpackaged tobacco
• Multiple firearms offences

Related: Preliminary hearing scheduled for man charged in local drug and firearms seizure

Related: Charges withdrawn for one suspect in local drug and firearms seizure, arrest warrant issued for second suspect

Related: Preliminary hearing scheduled for pair charged in local drug trafficking investigation

Related: Red Deer pair, one of them still wanted, charged after drug seizure