By Brenda Starkey
The Chronicle

         SPOKANE – Two Canadians, who were arrested in Ferry County Nov. 1, pleaded guilty to federal drug charges Jan. 21.
         William R. Paterson, 50, and Jahrum D. Oakes, 32, both from Kelowna, B.C., were arrested near a Fourth of July Creek Road home.
         There was no plea agreement in the case and each man could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for each of three counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 kilograms or more of marijuana, court documents said.
         Both were detained after law enforcement officials allegedly observed each of them carrying two large black duffel bags through the barnyard at the residence and coming from the direction of the border, court documents said.
         Agents later found four more large black duffel bags, and all eight bags contained what appeared to be heat-sealed plastic bags of processed marijuana.
         Paterson has a serious criminal history and there are allegations he may be suffering from chemical dependency, court documents said.
         Both in the Spokane County Jail, and each has a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.
         Sentencing is set for Thursday, April 22, in U.S. District Court in Spokane.
         The duffels were weighed by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents at about 106.95 gross kilograms or 235 pounds, court documents said.
         In some parts of the country, British Columbia-grown marijuana will bring more than $1,000 per ounce wholesale.