Judge rejects accused’s bid to throw out drug case

A Kelowna man charged in a major 2014 drug bust has had his bid to have the charges dropped denied.

Shelden Harris, 33, was arrested Oct. 10, after Kelowna RCMP concluded a four-week drug trafficking investigation.

Raids of houses on Mills Road in Rutland and the 1400 block of Crawford Road yielded 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, more than a kilogram of methamphetamine, 65 grams of ecstasy, 224 grams of heroin, 403 grams of hash, $18,500 in cash and 500 rounds of ammunition.

Police also seized two pickup trucks, three cars and an all-terrain vehicle as proceeds of crime.

“It is believed that the amount of drugs seized as a result of this investigation will have a profound impact on the local drug trade,” said Cpl. Jeff Meyers at the time.

Harris and Tyson Stills are each charged with five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Harris applied to have his charges dropped because of the time it has taken to go to trial.

Last July, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Supreme Court cases must be completed within 30 months from the time the charge is laid to the conclusion of the trial.

Harris was arrested Oct. 10, 2014, but was not formally charged until Dec. 15, over 28 months ago.

The judge denied Harris’ application to have the charges dropped.

Casandra Diehl and Christopher Schiller are also charged with five counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking in this case.