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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

Cousins arrested w/ Ecstasy to stay jailed

Two men from Canada arrested with 159 pounds of Ecstasy near the United States border will stay in the Spokane County Jail without bail, a judge ruled today.

Christopher S. Stocken, 31, and Joshua J. Bird, 23, who are cousins and members of the Little Black Bear tribe, don't have a stable release plan to ensure their presence in court, U.S. Magistrate Cynthia Imbrogno said.

Family members traveled from Regina, Saskatchewan, for the hearing in U.S. District Court in Spokane this morning.

Stocken is unemployed but works seasonal odd jobs, his lawyer said. He has a warrant in Canada related to a drunken driving conviction, and Bird also has a drunken driving conviction. But neither man has any criminal history that indicated they're a risk to the community, lawyers said.

Imbrogno noted the seriousness of the charges when granting the U.S. Attorney's Office's motions to detain Stocken and Bird.

The suspects, who have not yet been indicted, face charges of possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy and importation of Ecstasy.

Border patrol agents found the men with five backpacks after they crossed into the country illegally from Canada on Friday. Investigators estimate the Ecstasy tablets to be worth $4.5 million.



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