A Vernon, B.C. man was sentenced Wednesday for crimes committed in Whitehorse.

Zacheriah Bradley, 24, was sentenced in territorial court on charges related to cocaine trafficking and weapons possession.

Bradley was originally charged with 23 counts, including possession of a machete, a can of bear spray, ammunition and $2,945 obtained by crime.

But Crown prosecutor Ludovic Gouaillier and defence attorney Vincent Larochelle filed a joint submission with the court where Bradley pleaded guilty to five of the charges.

These were:

• cocaine for the purpose of trafficking;

• cocaine trafficking;

• being at large on his recognizance by not living at the Howard House in Vernon;

• possessing a Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun for a purpose dangerous to the public peace; and

• possessing a Mossberg 270-calibre rifle without a licence.

The Crown stayed the remaining 19 charges.

Bradley was charged following an RCMP investigation into street-level drug trafficking in Whitehorse that began in December 2012.

According to the agreed statement of facts filed with the court, between Jan. 5 and 9, 2017, an undercover RCMP sergeant bought eight rocks of crack cocaine varying in size from 0.18 grams to 0.30 grams from Bradley on three separate occasions.

On Jan. 17, Bradley was arrested on a charge of drug trafficking, and the RCMP obtained a warrant to search his room at the Family Hotel.

There, they uncovered about 10.46 grams of crack cocaine, 29.16 grams of marijuana, cash, weapons, drug paraphernalia, and firearms in an unlocked carrying case stored under his bed.

On Wednesday, Bradley was given a sentence of two years plus a day jail time, a 10-year firearms ban, a mandatory DNA order, and forfeiture of items seized by the RCMP.

He also accrued 84 days’ credit served in prison while awaiting sentencing, which were noted but not included in his sentence.

Because of the “plus a day,” Bradley will serve his sentence in a federal penitentiary rather than the Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC).

But Larochelle noted that Bradley wanted the structure of a longer sentence in a federal institution.

“This is his first time in the Yukon, and he does find WCC to be a difficult place compared to other institutions he’s been in,” Larochelle explained.

“He has a good awareness of his issues. He doesn’t think it’s helpful to do short stints.”

The court heard about Bradley’s criminal record, which involved short stays in correctional institutions.

This is his first adult conviction related to drug trafficking or possession, and the longest sentence he has ever received.

“He wants to change his life around, and it’s not uncommon for people to go to a federal penitentiary and get the help they need and want,” said Larochelle.

Bradley told the court, “I just see it more as a gateway to structure myself, to better myself.”

Larochelle noted that Bradley had a difficult childhood. It included living in about 12 foster homes and attending four schools as a child in Vernon.

“It’s clear to me it was not ideal by any stretch of the imagination,” remarked Judge Michael Cozens.

Bradley also recently lost his brother, and the “rusty shotgun” seized by police was the last remaining item he had from him.

In his closing remarks, Cozens noted Bradley’s young age and ability to make positive change in his life.

But he expressed concern about Bradley having a positive support system once he leaves prison.

“You have a lot of time to turn yourself around, but it’s hard to do without support,” he said.

“You’re going to have pressure on you to do the easier thing; it’s going to take a lot of willpower on you to resist. That’s just the human condition.”

When asked about positive friends and family in his life, Bradley responded, “I don’t really have much of anybody.”

But Cozens noted that he has seen several accused persons turn their lives around.

“I really wish you the best, Mr. Bradley, with trying to turn your life away from the path that has brought you here,” he said.

“You can do it, but I won’t tell you it will be easy.”