A retired RCMP officer made his first appearance in court this morning, accused of criminal charges while he was still with the force.

49-year-old Steven Blackmore was a corporal with the Mounties when the incident is alleged to have occurred in June of 2019.

He’s accused of assault and forcible confinement against a man in Clarenville, but was on leave and off-duty at the time.

SIRT NL, which investigates serious incidents involving the police, laid the charges but passed the case to the RNC due to a conflict between SIRT and Blackmore.

Then this morning, provincial court Judge Paul Noble also declared himself in a conflict as an acquaintance of Blackmore, telling the court that another judge will have to hear the case.

Blackmore was in the Clarenville courtroom this morning but has yet to retain lawyer, asking for all evidence to be sent to him for now.

His case will be called again in March.

Blackmore was accused of sexual assaulting two women in 2014 but was ultimately cleared of those charges.