Pubdate: Wed, 09 Apr 2003
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Tracey Tyler, Legal Affairs Reporter

DRUG CASE RUINOUS: MINISTER

Trafficking Charge Now Withdrawn

Return To Pulpit Still In Question

A United Church minister says her life has been "destroyed" by a 
drug-trafficking charge that was withdrawn yesterday, nearly three months 
after police smashed down her door, strip-searched her and threw her into a 
cell with three other inmates.

Rev. Judith Brown says she has been undergoing professional counselling and 
doesn't know when she will return to her pulpit at the 
Kelvin-Teeterville-Vanessa United Church in the countryside near Simcoe, Ont.

While some members of her congregation were "supportive" through her 
ordeal, others have avoided or refused to speak with her, she said 
yesterday. And even though she has been on sick leave since her arrest, a 
"splinter group" broke off and decided to hold church services on its own 
rather than be associated with her church, she added.

"It's almost like I was contaminated," Brown, 48, said after a federal 
crown attorney yesterday withdrew two charges of possessing nearly two 
kilos of hashish and prescription drugs and one charge of possession for 
the purpose of trafficking.

The Ontario Court of Justice in Simcoe was told there was no reasonable 
prospect of conviction.

Brown, a minister for 21 years, was arrested in January with 37 others in 
connection with what the Ontario Provincial Police described as a year-long 
undercover investigation.Also charged was Michael Gustin, 42, her 
boyfriend, with whom she shares a house.

Lawyer Adam Boni said the crown conceded Brown "was never a target."
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