DRUG CHARGES FOR SISTERS DISMISSED

CANTON- To sisters from Cornwall, Ontario, charged with possessing 19
pounds of marijuana back in August of 2002, have had the charges
dismissed in St Lawrence County court.

St. Lawrence Judge Eugene L. Nicandri dismissed charges against Donna
M., 24 and Laura L. Lazore, 21, both from Cornwall, Ontario. They were
facing charges of first-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Nicandri made the ruling after reviewing the minutes of the grand jury
that indicted the two sisters. He ruled that since the sworn
statements were based on hearsay, they were not adequate enough to
support the allegations.

The two sisters were charged following an Aug. 16, 2002 traffic stop
by St Lawrence County sheriff's deputies and drug task force members
where 19 pounds of marijuana, worth around $80,000, was found in their
car. Nathan P. Benedict, 24, also of Cornwall, Island, was also
charged in the incident.

A new indictment against the sisters may be sought, according to
Nicandri.