A 44-year-old Weyburn resident, Duane Hoffart, was sentenced in Court of Queen's Bench to 10 months in jail for a number of drug-trafficking charges from two years ago.
The Crown entered a stay of proceedings on three counts against Ryan Tripp, 22, who was co-accused with Hoffart on one of the charges. The pair were to face trial in Queen's Bench in Weyburn on Thursday, when guilty pleas were entered by Hoffart.
Hoffart entered guilty pleas on charges of trafficking in marijuana on Feb. 6, 1997; possession of $2,130 which were the proceeds of drug trafficking, on July 9, 1997; trafficking in marijuana on Jan. 24; and trafficking in marijuana on April 8.
Further counts of possession of cash obtained by drug trafficking on Jan. 24, Feb. 6 and April 8, 1997, were all stayed by the Crown.
Court was told by Crown prosecutor Nancy Drew that an undercover operation was conducted by RCMP officers, with purchases of marijuana made by an undercover officer on the above dates at a residence in Weyburn. In July 9 of that year, the RCMP drug squad and Weyburn city police officers combined to arrest Hoffart, and after being taken into custody the proceeds of $2,130 from drug sales was found on him. Hoffart declined to provide a written statement at the time, court heard, but said to the police he had purchased marijuana and the money seized was from sales of the drug.
Justice Gerry Allbright received a joint submission from the Crown and defence on sentencing for Hoffart. Drew said as Hoffart had two prior convictions for drug possession, in 1979 and 1991, and as there were multiple offences of trafficking in the counts he pleaded guilty to, a jail term was appropriate, along with probation and forfeiture of the money to the Crown.
"I take a serious view of the joint recommendation for sentencing, and examine them in relation to the laws as I understand them. The joint recommendation reflects the need to denounce this kind of crime, and to deter other who may be of a like mind. I am prepared to endorse the recommendation made to me," said Justice Allbright before imposing the jail term.
Following his time in the Regina Correctional Centre, Hoffart will be placed on one year's probation, and the proceeds of the drug sales are forfeit to the Attorney-General.
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