Man living on Salmon Arm farm where human remains found appears in court

The man whose family farm is at the centre of a massive RCMP search appeared in court Thursdayon firearms charges in relation to an incident earlier this year.

Curtis Wayne Sagmoen, 36, is accused of threatening a woman with a shotgun on Aug. 28. He's charged with multiple firearms offences and disguising his face with a mask in relation to the incident.

Policebelieve the alleged victim was a sex worker who had arranged a meeting with a man near Salmon River Road,using awebsitepopular amongescorts. An RCMP statement said she escaped unharmed.

The incident prompted apublic warning to women and sex workers earlier this month, asking them to take "any measures they deem necessary to safeguard" themselves as RCMPinvestigated the incident.

On Thursday, Sagmoenwas ordered not to have any contact with the woman, whose name is protected by a publication ban.

Remains found on family farm

Sagmoen'scourt appearance atVernon Provincial Court garnered significant attention Thursday, as his family farm on Salmon River Road has been at the centre of a massive RCMP investigation for nearly a week.

Human remains were found at the back of the property on Saturday and the discovery was immediately treated as suspicious.

Sagmoen has notbeen arrested or chargedin relation to the discovery.

Investigators have yet to reveal whetherthe remainsbelong to one person or multiple people. RCMPhave also said it's too early to speculate whetherthe remainsare connected to the disappearance of at least five women in the region.

Caitlin Potts, 27; Ashley Simpson, 32; Deanna Wertz, 46; Nicole Bell, 31; and Traci Genereaux, 18, have all gone missing from the North Okanagan since early 2016.

After Thursday's hearing, about two dozen protesters rallied outside the courthouse to oppose violence against women. They demanded Sagmoen be refused bail, though they acknowledged RCMP have not named him in relation to the discovery.

Sagmoen has yet to have a bail hearing in relation to the firearms charges.

The warrant that led to the investigation on the Salmon River Road farm has been sealed by the court, and RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk wouldn't say what prompted police attention at that location.

The officer also wouldn't say what led to a second, relatedsearchat a secondsite near Springbend Road and Highway 97B, about 15 kilometres to the northeast. Moskalukwouldn't say what officers are looking for at either location.

Sagmoen remains in custody. Hisnext court appearance is an arraignment hearingsetfor Nov. 23.

With files from Brady Strachan