Calgary stepdad accused of abducting 6 kids and fleeing to Ontario released on bail

The Calgary stepfather accused of abducting six children and taking them to Ontario was released on bail Thursday and was ordered to have no contact with the kids or their mother.

The 49-year-old man can't be identified because of a publication ban in place designed to protect the children involved.

He is charged with six counts of child abduction.

Calgary policereceived a report from a woman who believed her common-law partner had left the province with her six children on Oct. 24.

• Man charged after 6 children missing from Calgary found in Bowmanville

Two days later, a Durham, Ont., police officer found thechildren ranging in age from 18 months to 11 years old.

The Ontario police officer came across a suspicious vehicle in a parking lotand ran the Alberta licence plate, whichcame back as connected to a parental abduction investigation.

The man was arrested on a Canada-wide warrant and eventually transported back to Calgary where he's been at the remand centre ever since.

Defence lawyer Jim Lutz secured his client's release on Thursday on a $1,000 cash bail.

Last week, Calgary police said the case did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert.

The manwill be back in court Nov. 29.