Detective Sergeant Craig Hudson

The defendant pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 of prescription medication from her employer pharmacy and possession for the purpose of trafficking in Schedule 1 opioid substances (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and oxycodone).

Between August and December 2016, she stole over 16,000 prescription pills and 670 fentanyl patches valued at approximately $33,724.73 to the pharmacy and $850,000-$900,000 on the street.

She traded or bartered the stolen drugs to her drug dealer for cocaine to feed her addiction.

The court imposed a six-year penitentiary sentence, balancing the serious aggravating circumstances (breach of trust, prior similar conviction, commercial element, dangerous opioids) against mitigating factors (guilty plea, genuine remorse, significant rehabilitation efforts, first penitentiary sentence).

Two defendants pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

The Crown sought four-year penitentiary sentences for both.

The sentencing judge found that Michael Hillier played the more significant role in the trafficking enterprise, which was motivated by a desire to support his partner's extended maternity leave.

Brittny Blain played a lesser role, primarily as a driver.

The judge imposed a two-year-less-a-day custodial sentence on Hillier followed by three years' probation, and a suspended sentence with three years' probation for Blain.

The decision emphasizes the importance of considering rehabilitation, restraint, and individualized proportionality in sentencing drug offenders, particularly those struggling with addiction.