A 32-year-old man was sentenced to a 12-month conditional term Thursday for possession of 20.5 grams of cocaine powder and an additional gram of crack cocaine.

'You have to understand this is your last chance,' visiting Yukon Supreme Court Justice C. Scott Brooker told Jason Chapman, a life-long resident of the Yukon.

If he violates the conditions of his sentence, he could face extensive jail time, he was warned.

For the first six months of his sentence, Chapman will be confined 24 hours a day to his parents' home in Ross River.

However, he will be permitted to work for C. McLeod Contracting as a dump truck driver and to spend four hours a week visiting with his children.

Brooker also ordered Chapman to 'abstain absolutely from the possession and consumption of alcohol and non-prescription drugs.'

The man must also undergo a 28-day drug rehabilitation program as well as mandatory drug testing. Chapman was also ordered to complete 75 hours of community service within nine months.

Crown prosecutor Noel Sinclair described Chapman's arrest on Aug. 6, 2006 on the Klondike Highway.

A resident of Ross River tipped off the RCMP after overhearing Chapman saying in a bar he planned to travel to Whitehorse to pick up cocaine.

Police officers obtained a search warrant for Chapman's car and discovered the 21.5 grams of powdered and crack cocaine, as well as crack pipes, rolling papers, weighing scales, and a small amount of marijuana. The scales contained traces of a 'green leafy material' associated with marijuana.

Chapman pleaded not guilty to charges of drug trafficking last February.

The case had been set for trial until Chapman agreed to plead guilty to the lesser crime of drug possession last June. Chapman has maintained that the drugs were for his personal use and that he was not involved in drug trafficking.

Sinclair also noted that Chapman has eight prior convictions on his criminal record, including five property-related offences, two offences for drug possession, and one count of resisting arrest.

'(Chapman) seems to be immersed in drug culture,' said Sinclair. 'He has strong family support, every opportunity to be a productive member of society, (yet) he is drawn to illicit drugs and allows them to drag him down.

'The consequences of his choices will be made plain to him.'

Defence lawyer Malcolm Campbell suggested a 60- to 90-day conditional sentence, to which Brooker replied, 'Way too low. Way, way too low.'

Brooker said he was troubled by the fact that Chapman has continued to use cocaine while free on bail.

'He kind of stuffs the rehab business and continues to use drugs. He doesn't seem to get it,' said Brooks.

Sinclair asked for four to five months' incarceration for Chapman. The maximum sentence for possession of cocaine is seven years' incarceration.