A group protesting violence against women crowded onto the steps of the Vernon courthouse Thursday, just ahead of a court appearance by Curtis Wayne Sagmoen, who is facing charges over an August incident in which a sex trade worker was allegedly threatened with a gun.

Sagmoen, 36, is facing several charges, including intentionally discharging a firearm and uttering threats.

His video appearance from a correctional facility was brief and the case was put over to Dec. 14.

Sagmoen is also connected to a farm where the remains of Traci Genereaux, 18, were located last month.

The farm, on Salmon River Road near Silver Creek, was the subject of an intense, month-long search by special RCMP forensic units.

The farm is owned by Sagmoen's parents.

Sagmoen has not been connected to the death of Genereaux which police are calling suspicious.

Organizer Meagan Louis, of the local Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women group, said the goal of today's protest was to keep violence against women in the public eye and to keep pressure on authorities in regards to murdered and missing women.

“Us being out here is so important for all the missing women across Canada. We've noticed that once we started rocking the boat, things started happening,” said Louis, but she admits things are still not happening fast enough.

“We're still waiting for the inquiry. We're still waiting for answers,” said Louis.

It was the group's second protest at the courthouse on the days of Sagmoen's appearances.