An Alberta man charged with drug trafficking offences by the Battlefords RCMP pleaded not guilty and elected to be tried by provincial court judge.
A one-day trial for Lowen Diehl, 36, is scheduled for July 6 in North Battleford Provincial Court.
Federal Crown Prosecutor Kirsten Janis told the court she intends to call three witnesses. The Crown is proceeding by indictment against Diehl, which may mean a longer prison sentence if convicted.
On April 20, Alberta lawyer Mona Karout appeared in North Battleford court by telephone as an agent for the lawyer representing Diehl. She waived Diehl’s attendance and told the court that defence doesn’t plan on calling any witnesses during the trial.
Diehl was arrested during a traffic stop in December 2020 after a citizen called police to report an SUV being driven erratically. The vehicle was stopped west of Battleford on Highway 16.
Police say they seized 17 kg of drugs and a large amount of Canadian currency from Diehl’s vehicle. They say the methamphetamine could be broken down into about 150,000 individual doses and the cocaine could be broken down to about 1,000 individual doses.
In January, Diehl was released on $10,000 cash bail and a $10,000 surety. His bail conditions stipulate that he remain at his home in Alberta on 24-hour house arrest.
