Matters adjourned in major drug case

Two Lethbridge people charged following a major drug bust in March are waiting to see what happens to a third suspect before deciding what steps to take next.

The three accused, Jolene Burge, Tyler Dean Petryshyn and Jeffrey Michael Seniec, were in Lethbridge provincial court Thursday but had their matters adjourned to Nov. 16.

Lethbridge lawyer Art Larson, who represents Petryshyn, told court that resolving his client’s charges will likely “simplify” matters for the two other accused. He added, however, if he’s unable to resolve the charges next month, he may decide to have a trial.

Petryshyn and Burge are each charged with two counts of drug possession, four counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Seniec is charged with four counts of drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of possession of stolen property over $5,000.

The charges stem from an incident on March 9 following a six-month investigation, when Lethbridge police officers searched a home on Lafayette Boulevard West and seized a quantity of hashish, 13 kilograms of marijuana, nearly two kilograms of marijuana resin, three kilograms of psilocybin, 400 bottles of liquid THC, 136 tabs of LSD, nearly two kilograms of marijuana candy and more than $121,000 cash.

A GMC Sierra was also seized, and three people inside the home were taken into custody without incident. Police reported that the cash and drugs seized total nearly $500,000.