The defendant pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking in oxycodone.
The Crown sought 18-24 months incarceration, while the defence sought a conditional sentence of 12-16 months followed by probation.
The court imposed a 16-month conditional sentence followed by one year probation.
The court found that while general deterrence and denunciation are paramount in drug trafficking cases, the defendant's circumstances—including advanced age (73 years old), first offender status, small role in the trafficking scheme, motivation driven by personal oxycodone dependence, and significant pre-trial custody and house arrest—warranted a conditional sentence as a rare exception to the typical incarceration requirement.
