R. v. Vincent, 2016 ONCA 580

ENDORSEMENT

1The appellant appeals his sentence of two years less one day in a provincial reformatory to be followed by probation for two years on convictions for possession for the purpose of trafficking in heroin and oxycodone. He received concurrent sentences of three months followed by an equivalent period of probation for possession of stolen identification and careless storage of ammunition.

2The appellant is an Aboriginal man, 43 years of age. He has a dated and unrelated record. At trial, Crown counsel sought a penitentiary sentence of four years. Trial counsel for the appellant sought a reformatory term followed by a period of probation and a recommendation that the sentence be served at the Ontario Correctional Institute.

3The trial judge was impressed, as are we, by the appellant’s rehabilitative prospects and efforts. He recommended that the appellant be incarcerated at the Ontario Correctional Institute. Regrettably, that has not occurred.

4In this court, Ms. Morton invites us to reduce the sentence imposed by the equivalent of the time spent in pre-trial custody grossed up by 1.5. The trial judge did so as defence counsel had submitted at trial.

5In our view, the sentence imposed reflects no error in principle. The trial judge did not assign disproportionate weight to any sentencing objective, principle or aggravating or mitigating factor. This was, after all, commercial trafficking in Schedule 1 drugs, albeit by an addict to support his habit.

6While leave to appeal sentence is granted, the appeal is dismissed. We reiterate the trial judge’s recommendation that the appellant be placed at the Ontario Correctional Institute and encourage him to continue his rehabilitative efforts to rid himself of his addiction.