Drug charges withdrawn following the death of accused

By Delon Shurtz on September 23, 2022.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com

Charges against a 40-year-old Lethbridge woman who was accused of selling drugs earlier this year have been dropped.

Two charges of drug trafficking were withdrawn Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court, after federal Crown Prosecutor Mark Klassen told the judge the accused, Carma Lynn Patterson, had died. Additional charges of driving without insurance and driving while unauthorized, were also withdrawn.

Patterson was charged Feb. 3 after a woman was found passed out in her vehicle. At about 2 p.m. that day, police were notified of an unresponsive driver parked in the 400 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. Police searched the vehicle and found methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and 28 unknown pills, worth about $10,500. Officers also seized $770 in cash.

Patterson was arrested but released following a judicial interim release hearing and ordered to appear in court. When she failed to appear in court April 8, a warrant was issued for her arrest.

Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter