Photo by Whitehorse Star
Ronald Asuchak
Driver's clothing was coated with cocaine
A Whitehorse man found guilty of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking has been sentenced to two years in jail.
A Whitehorse man found guilty of possessing cocaine for the purpose of trafficking has been sentenced to two years in jail.
Aside from the drug charge, Ronald Asuchak was also found guilty of dangerous driving and failing to stop for a peace officer after he attempted to flee from the RCMP while dumping cocaine out his car window.
This is his third drug-related conviction in as many years.
The 54-year-old was arrested April 21, 2011 after the police attempted to pull over the car he was driving in downtown Whitehorse.
Though first appearing to slow down for the officers, Asuchak fled and attempted to dispose of the cocaine by holding one or two plastic bags out the window.
In his sentencing Monday afternoon, territorial court Judge John Faulkner said it was clear the drugs were for more than Asuchak's own use "given that a cloud of cocaine billowed from the car for some blocks.”
When Asuchak and his passenger were eventually arrested, the front of his clothes was covered in cocaine powder. There was cocaine on the driver's side floor and seat, according to court documents.
Asuchak's lawyer, Ann Pollak, had proposed a sentence of between 10 and 12 months.
Faulkner called the suggestion "completely unfit in this case,” pointing out that Asuchak had received a 10-month sentence for his first conviction in 2009.
Pollak also suggested that Asuchak should receive a shorter sentence given the cramped and aging conditions at the current Whitehorse Correctional Centre.
She pointed out that Asuchak was forced to take phone calls in the washroom in order to get some privacy.
As well, he had made a number of complaints to officials regarding air quality and other conditions while in custody.
Jail officials also issued an apology recently for mistakenly opening privileged correspondence between Asuchak and his lawyer, she said.
Faulkner said he accepted that the 45-year-old correctional centre is out of date but added that Asuchak was suffering the same conditions of anyone incarcerated at the jail.
The newly-built, $70-million Whitehorse Correctional Centre is expected to be fully operational by February.
The new facility will be capable of housing as many as 190 inmates.
Given the time he has already spent in custody, Asuchak has about 10 months left to serve.
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Comments (8)
Up 1 Down 0
Josey Wales on Jan 27, 2012 at 10:36 am
Hey for all you folks whom voted Liberal for the last 30 years...this is why our courts are like a petting Zoo.
giving pats on the head to low lifes whom care about themselves and often not even that.
Seems everyone hates Stevie, but the CPC seems the only party whom loathes scum as he and many others.
NDP? They would probably pass laws forcing us to tolerate even more of the violence & general carnage...cuz the poor lil' babies are misunderstood.
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blow on free time! on Jan 25, 2012 at 11:32 am
You can sell drugs and make a ton of tax free money, live like you've worked your ass off for it and watch the world around you suffer from the addiction that you feed! We have drug dealers traveling all across the territory selling to citizens of all ages. We have outsiders coming in from the south, spend a little time on the ladies, make a ton of money, and as soon as they get heated out, they move on and live it up in the south. It's all around us and people like this guy think its a joke because he's got money in his pocket, respect from people that would do anything you ask them to do..all for the stupidity of drugs! And then you have them slither through the system with a slap on the wrist while many of the communities in the Yukon and surrounding areas of Whitehorse live with the consequences of their actions. Karma is a bitch and I'm sure if this guy was sent to the pen, where he's a man of his own, he would be working for someone like he makes the addicts work to get his drugs! Loser, I hope karma bites him big!!
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Yukon Hootch on Jan 25, 2012 at 3:31 am
Hmm... think I might give up my job and become a drug dealer. It's not like there's much risk.
What a moron though blowing the cocaine all over himself. FAIL!
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J.Creighton on Jan 24, 2012 at 1:15 pm
He should have 18 more years added to that sentence. Harsh sentences can help at least save a generation of kids.
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Anonymous on Jan 24, 2012 at 11:46 am
What a pathetic justice system we have! Send him and his passenger to the penitentiary. The pieces of trash shouldn't be in our society. It's time to clean up our city, but with sentences like these it ain't gonna happen!
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Francias Pillman on Jan 24, 2012 at 11:18 am
He should of killed someone instead, as he would of gotten a slap on the wrist. Sorry, someone who deals drugs is not a threat to public safety, no matter what CNN tells you. As a society that allows people caught with drugs to be imprisoned longer than a murderer is truly sickening. And chances are 99% of society uses some sort of drug.
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Patrick on Jan 24, 2012 at 8:52 am
If our society permitted doctors to prescribe drugs to addicts which satiated their addictions, would this man still be dealing drugs and would he be a criminal??
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yukonjj on Jan 24, 2012 at 8:34 am
Another ridiculous sentence. 3 convictions in 3 years and this is all he gets? He will be doing the same thing again as soon as he is released. Its about time our courts start to impose real time to these predators.