DRUG CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST MAN IN BABY SITTER CASE

Drug charges have been dropped against a man in a case that began with the
discovery of a baby sitter who died of a drug overdose.

Louis Chartier, 32, was arrested June 26 on charges of possession of
heroin, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and controlled substance.

A prosecutor at the State Attorney's Office said Tuesday that the state was
unable to prove its case. The charges against Chartier were dropped July
24, court records showed.

Chartier, of Sarasota, and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Heather Salvhus,
were living at 7127 13th St. E. on June 11 when they left a known drug user
with Salvhus' children, according to police reports.

While watching the children, Sarah Beeman-Albritton, 25, died in the house
from a combination of Xanax and methadone.

At Salvhus and Chartier's June 26 custody hearing, the two were arrested on
charges of possession of heroin, cocaine, drug paraphernalia and controlled
substance. Salvhus also was charged with child neglect, according to court
records.

Manatee County Sheriff's Office detectives later found drugs, scattered
garbage and rotten food in the house, as well as an unsafe pool in the back
yard. Salvhus' 6-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son were taken June 11
by Child Protective Services and given to the boy's father in Sarasota.

Prosecutor Cynthia Evers said Tuesday that because the drugs were found in
the home and not on Chartier, prosecutors were unable to prove the drugs
belonged to him.

"We have the burden of proving with affirmative evidence that he possessed
the drugs or had explicit knowledge of their nature," Evers said. "These
elements are required by law."

Evers added that the charges were declined as soon as the State Attorney's
Office completed its investigation.

Salvhus is represented by Defense Attorney Michael Marcantano, and the two
are waiting to see what the next step will be.

"As it stands now, we're still waiting to see what's going to happen with
the charges against Heather," Marcantano said.

Marcantano said he was not sure where Salvhus' children were but assumed
they were still with her son's father.