Eight people facing close to 20 charges connected with a major grow-op bust in Whitehorse last September have pleaded not guilty to the counts and have elected to be tried by territorial court judge.

Defence lawyers Ed Horembala, Gord Coffin and Nils Clarke appeared before justice of the peace Dean Cameron this morning to enter the pleas and make the election on behalf of Zhu Dong Liang, Kiu Tin Yeung, Guang Xian Zhu, Wei Min Zai, Wei Xiong Wen, Jian Xiong Zhou, Min Shan Jiang and Kwok Yiu Cheung.

A date for trial will be confirmed in court next Wednesday.

All are facing charges of producing marijuana, possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and stealing electricity.

Wen is also facing an additional count of having property obtained by crime.

Court documents state that around Sept. 29, 2005, he had more than $5,000 knowing it came from an offence.

Court documents also note the 18 other offences happened around Sept. 22 at 208 Falcon Dr., 22 Tigereye Cres. and 23 Black Bear Lane; then, around Sept. 26 at 86 Falcon Dr.; around Sept. 28 at 16 Sitka Cres. and finally around Sept. 29 at 41 Grouse Cres..

Last September, Whitehorse RCMP seized more than 4,600 marijuana plants from an eight-day search of what were believed to be grow operations.

Coffin, Zai's lawyer, also opted to follow with a not guilty plea and election of territorial court judge for a separate charge of failing to comply with a condition of undertaking or recognizance.