Routt County Judge James Garrecht has dismissed two charges related to money laundering against the older of two Steamboat Springs brothers accused of dealing heroin.

Elijah Persons, 21, had his preliminary hearing with Garrecht last week, and the judge made his ruling Monday. The purpose of the hearing was to determine whether probable cause existed as to whether Persons committed the six felonies he had been charged with.

“As for the money laundering charge ... there is no evidence as to what the defendant did with the money he received,” Garrecht wrote. “There is no evidence that he purchased more drugs with the money he obtained or used it for other criminal activity. As far as anyone knows he may still be in possession of these funds.”

Garrecht ruled that probable cause exists with four of the charges, and the case has been moved to District Court, where felonies are heard.

Persons now faces:

■ Violation of Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, a Class 2 felony

■ Distribution of heroin, a Class 3 felony

■ Conspiracy to sell or distribute heroin, a Class 3 felony

■ Possession with the intent to sell or distribute heroin, a Class 3 felony.

Persons’ brother, Jordan Persons, 19, waived his preliminary hearing and his 11 felonies have been moved to District Court.