Judge denies bail for 3 men charged in alleged plot to take land near Quebec City

A Quebec court judge denied bail Wednesday for three men facing terrorism charges in an alleged plot to forcibly seize land in the Quebec City area.

Simon Angers-Audet, 24, Raphaël Lagacé, 25, and Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, face charges of facilitating a terrorist activity, and other charges related to the illegal storage of firearms and possession of explosives and prohibited devices.

There is a publication ban on details of the bail hearing as well as the judge’s reasons for ordering the men held pending trial.

Quebec court Judge René de la Sablonnière heard evidence and arguments in July and delivered the hour-long ruling today in a Quebec City courtroom.

2:25 New insight on alleged anti-government militia in Quebec

The Crown had opposed their release.

“The judge rendered his decision today and ordered the detention of the three accused on the grounds that, if released, it would undermine public confidence in the administration of justice,” said Gabriel Lapierre, a federal Crown prosecutor with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

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The court heard from an RCMP officer as well as the three accused and several members of their families.

A fourth accused — Matthew Forbes, 33 — is facing weapons charges and was granted bail on July 14 under a lengthy list of conditions that include wearing a GPS tracking bracelet.

The Canadian Armed Forces have said Forbes and Chabot were active members of the military at the time of their arrest on July 8.

The accused will return to court on Sept. 12 for the next steps in their case.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 6, 2025.