Cocaine ‘insidious, ruins lives, and kills people’
A B.C. man who pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine told a territorial court judge that during the four months he’s spent in custody awaiting sentencing, he’s become a changed man.
A B.C. man who pleaded guilty to trafficking cocaine told a territorial court judge that during the four months he’s spent in custody awaiting sentencing, he’s become a changed man.
Brett Roney, 46, said he arrived in jail angry and hot-tempered.
However, through self-reflection, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and reading the Bible, he has committed to turning his life around.
“I’ve bettered myself,” he told the court this morning, tearing up during his sentencing. “I have become a better person.”
The Fort Nelson, B.C., native was arrested in Watson Lake last May after RCMP received a report of a drug transaction taking place in a truck outside the community’s post office. A man, woman and child were said to be in the car.
They later arrested Roney near a playground. He was in the truck with $650 cash and three grams of cocaine.
He told police he had given the woman 0.5 grams as a gift.
She was at the playground with her child.
When an RCMP officer approached her, she put a baggie in her mouth. It contained 0.5 grams of cocaine, the court was told.
Roney’s criminal record includes several other offences, including marijuana possession.
“He’s ramping up his drug involvement, going from marijuana to cocaine,” said Judge Deborah Livingstone.
She addressed Roney directly: “Cocaine is a completely different substance. It is insidious, it ruins lives, and it kills people.”
Crown prosecutor Keith Parkkari sought a 15-month sentence, with enhanced credit – 1 1/2 days for every day served – for the 113 days Roney has already spent in custody.
Defence lawyer David Christie proposed an eight-month sentence with time served, plus 12 months of probation.
He presented the judge with letters of support for his client.
They show he can be a good father, a good partner, and a good community member, Livingstone acknowledged.
“On the other hand, your record shows me there are times when you are none of these things.”
Roney stood up to address the court.
When he quit drinking and doing drugs from 2003 to 2010, he said, he never got into trouble with the law.
He said he has sworn off these substances, and is eager to return to his hometown and get involved in volunteering again.
Every fall over the last 10 years, he has helped elders hunt moose, he said. At Christmas, he provides turkeys and presents to families in the community.
Livingstone said it seems Roney knows how to supervise himself, and she didn’t find probation necessary.
But given his record and the drug’s seriousness, she said the sentence Christie suggested was not enough.
She sentenced the man to 12 months in jail, with enhanced credit, for a total of 6 1/2 months remaining to serve.
He was ordered to forfeit the $650 and is banned from owning firearms for life.
Comments (3)
Up 15 Down 5
really now? on Sep 22, 2014 at 12:01 pm
Really? Let's do a tally here. Did he break the law? Yes.
Does he have prior convictions? Yes. Lots:
Assaults, Breach of Undertaking, Driving while prohibited, Fear of injury/damage by another person, Failing to appear, Perjury.
This is all public info available at court services.
If dealing of the cocaine would have been his first offence I would agree with "MANTIS TOBOGGAN", however it is not.
At poster "nope", this man has been convicted of plenty of criminal acts including violent ones, so the whole criminal record/limited employment scenario does not apply. Especially since his criminal record goes back to the last decade.
So please people do a little research prior to sounding off. As the old saying goes, can't do the time don't do the crime.
Up 10 Down 18
nope on Sep 20, 2014 at 2:45 pm
And giving someone such a harsh sentence for such a small amount will destroy his life more than the cocaine would ever do. Criminal record. Limited employment.
Up 12 Down 25
MANTIS TOBOGGAN on Sep 19, 2014 at 4:17 pm
A year in jail, that's ridiculous. It's not like he was selling it to kids at the playground, he had it for his personal use. This man should get probation at the most. The courts are filling up the jails with people that shouldn't be there.