Two men accused of sexual assault and other disturbing charges in Conception Harbour last year had their case called in provincial court this morning.

Fifty-one-year-old Joseph Lewis and 37-year-old Ryan Spencer were charged following an investigation last spring into a sexual assault and drug offences.

The arrests were made after RCMP raided a home on Valley Road in Conception Harbour on April 26.

Inside, they found and seized cocaine and other items consistent with drug-trafficking, as well as evidence linked to the sexual assault investigation.

Lewis was initially charged with one count each of sexual assault and drug trafficking. But since then additional charges of sexual assault, forcible confinement and extortion have been laid against both Lewis and Spencer.

In provincial court this morning in St. John’s, it was noted Spencer is still serving federal time at Springhill Institution in Nova Scotia for previous drug and property crimes as part of Operation B-Tarantula, a joint investigation into inter-provincial drug trafficking that dates back to 2017, and resulted in convictions against nine people.

Lewis, meanwhile, remains free on conditions.

Lawyers for both men said they’re still reviewing disclosure and asked for a postponement in the case.

It will be called again in late February.