Drug charges lead to trial in April, 2018

The second of three people charged in connection to drug overdoses on the Blood Reserve in 2015 is heading for trial, but not until next year.

Charles Shouting, whose lawyer was in Lethbridge Court of Queen’s Bench Monday, is set to stand trial for five days beginning April 16, 2018. Shouting, 36, is charged with criminal negligence causing death and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking.

He is co-accused with Jessica Good Rider, 28, whose matters were also in court Monday but adjourned for two weeks so she can hire a lawyer.

Shouting and Good Rider are charged with Bobby Weasel Head in relation to three overdoses in Standoff from a suspected potent batch of drugs being sold as Oxy 80. The drugs are being blamed for the death of Roxanne Nona Blood, 41, and Timothy Glen Eagle Speaker, 46, who were found dead in a Standoff home.

Another person believed to be at the birthday gathering had been treated earlier in the day and survived. There was also a fourth overdose, but police said it was not related to the tragedy at the party.

Weasel Head, 43, is charged with two counts of manslaughter and one count of drug trafficking relating to the drug overdoses in March 2015. Weasel Head is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 1122.

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