At the conclusion of a three-day jury trial, Elija Patterson, 34, of Colorado Springs     was convicted November 21of several felony charges stemming from his arrest last April 1^st.  Deliberating for just three hours, the jury returned verdicts of guilty on charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, a class three felony; possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), a class six felony; aggravated motor vehicle theft, a class four felony; possession of a firearm by a previous offender, a class six felony; and a misdemeanor drug offense.  Patterson is next due in court January 3 for a hearing on a charge of being a habitual criminal, a factor that could increase the length of his sentence.    

Prosecutor for the state’s case was Ms. Molly Chilson, deputy district attorney for the Eleventh Judicial District.  District Court Judge Charles Barton presided.

Patterson was arrested April 1^st when Deputy Sheriff Ben Adair attempted to stop a black Chevrolet sedan for a minor traffic violation on US 5O near Poncha Springs.  As Deputy Adair turned his patrol car around to make the stop the sedan sped up, ran a stop sign, and turned onto Hulbert Avenue in Poncha Springs where the deputy lost sight of the vehicle.

A few minutes later the deputy spotted the vehicle parked at the side of 105 Evans Avenue; it was unoccupied.  The deputy ran the car’s license plate and discovered the plate had been reported stolen.  A check of the car’s vehicle identification number revealed that it too had been reported stolen.  The investigation continued as the deputy, assisted by other lawmen, entered the house and questioned residents inside.  A cursory search of the house was conducted and on the rear deck officers found an unlatched door leading to a crawl space beneath.  On verbal orders from deputies two persons emerged from the crawl space, including Patterson.

Evidence collected during the search of the house included a backpack in which was found a loaded 9mm handgun, marijuana, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, cell phones, and a digital camera.  All were seized as evidence.