Patrick Brazeau set to plead guilty to simple assault, cocaine charges

Patrick Brazeau, the former Conservative senator first dropped byhis party and then suspended by his Senate colleaguesin 2013, appears set to settle some of his legal troubles.

Brazeauis expected to plead guiltyto one count of simple assault, as well as a separate charge of possession of cocaine, in a Quebec court room next week.

His guilty pleas could meanan absolute discharge and no criminal record.

Brazeau was on trial for assault and sexual assault related to an incident at a Gatineau, Que.residencein February 2013. The trial was set to resume nextTuesday.

The cocaine chargeis separate, arisingfrom an April 2014 incident where Brazeauoriginallywas charged with assault, possession of cocaine, uttering threats and breaching bail conditions following an altercation involving a man and a woman at a home in Gatineau.

Neither the Crown prosecutor nor Brazeau's defence lawyer had any comment about negotiations towards a plea agreement.

Senate fraud trial ahead

Brazeaustill faces more time in court. His criminal trial onfraud charges arising from disputed Senate living expenses is scheduled for early 2016.

With the dissolution of Parliament for the federal election, Brazeau's suspension has ended and he's now on a leave of absence. He's now back on the Senate payroll, although wages are being garnisheed to recover funds the Senate's investigation deems to have been improperly reimbursed for his residence.

The Senate may vote again to suspend him when it returns later this fall.

Brazeau claimed expenses as if he was living in Maniwaki, Que. but was found by the Senate to be living in the National Capital Region, in Gatineau.

The rules around disqualifying senators say that he automatically vacates his seat if he's "attainted of treason or convicted of felony or of any infamous crime."

Brazeau, 40, was named to the Senate in 2009 by Conservative Leader Stephen Harper. He was the former national chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, which represents those living off-reserve.

• The rise and fall of Patrick Brazeau

A separate 2014 chargeof impaired care or control of a motor vehicle remainsoutstanding against Brazeau.