A complex case involving three young adults was back in court in Barrie today.  

Two women and a man are facing numerous charges related to crimes against children. The alleged crimes happened mostly in the Orillia area. Today's hearing is setting the stage for the next phase of the case.

It's been about eight months since Shayne Lund, Avery Taylor, and Kathryn Thompson were arrested.

They face a combined total of more than a 100 charges, mostly allegations of sex crimes against children.  The charges include making and possessing child pornography, bestiality, and conspiring to commit other crimes like administering a noxious substance and sexual assault.

Lund's lawyer says it's possible more even more charges could be laid.

“The matter was now going to move ahead regardless of what police have done but it certainly is a possibility that more evidence is analyzed and more electronic devices are analyzed,” says Eginhart Ehlers. “We could be facing more charges. That's certainly a possibility.”

A lengthy preliminary hearing is set: 36 days have been set aside to see if there's enough evidence to warrant a trial. Because the case is so big, lawyers have been meeting monthly to figure out the best way to streamline that preliminary hearing. 

Today was one of those meetings in court.

“We're not discussing the evidence we're not discussing defences, says lawyer Angela McLeod, “we're simply having practical discussion how does this take place? How can it be managed in 36 days? Do we need to have more than 36 days?”

Until the preliminary hearing, there are still other issues to work through – like bail.

Kathryn Thompson was granted bail in April and has been under constant supervision. Shayne Lund has not yet had a bail hearing.  Avery Taylor was denied bail in the fall, but her lawyer says he will be trying again to get his client released.

“There will be a bail review brought soon,” says lawyer Mel Malick.

He says there is already a plan for how Taylor would be supervised if she were to get bail.

“When the ruling came down there was very little mention of the grandmother's capabilities so i would like to bring that forward at this point,” he says. “The terms would be 24 hour supervision so there's absolutely not going to be any risk.”

The case will be back in court at the end of July and the preliminary hearing is set to begin in the fall.