S. Dudoni

Adrian Skeete was found guilty of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon.

The Crown sought an 18-month concurrent sentence, arguing for a mandatory minimum of one year due to the weapon.

Defence proposed a 9-month sentence with credit for pre-trial house arrest.

The court rejected the mandatory minimum, finding no link between the weapon and trafficking.

Considering aggravating factors (nature of crack cocaine, prior robbery conviction) and mitigating factors (steady employment, family ties, desire for counseling), the court imposed a total concurrent sentence of 15 months for trafficking and 4 months for the weapon, reduced by 6 days for pre-sentence custody and 2 months for house arrest, resulting in 13 months less 6 days.

Ancillary orders included a lifetime weapons prohibition, DNA order, and victim surcharges.

The accused was stopped by police for driving with an unlit rear license plate.

During the stop, an officer spotted a knife on the passenger seat, leading to the accused's arrest.

A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded 12.12 grams of crack cocaine, $1,300 in cash, and a digital scale.

The court dismissed the accused's Charter applications under sections 8, 9, and 10(b), finding the stop, arrest, and search lawful.

At trial, the court rejected the accused's claim that the drugs were for personal use and convicted him of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon, but acquitted him of possession of proceeds of crime and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.