Dealing drugs lands Charlottetown man 4-year prison sentence
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — A Charlottetown man who mentioned he bought again into drug dealing as a result of he did not find the money for saved for retirement has been sentenced to 4 years in federal jail.
The offender – Boyd J. MacKay, 62 – defined in P.E.I. Supreme Courtroom on April 11 that he realized just a few years in the past that he did not have a lot when it comes to a pension.
“I may probably dwell for an additional 20 to 30 years, which drove me to need more cash for extra safety,” mentioned MacKay.
MacKay beforehand pleaded responsible to a few prices of drug possession for trafficking functions – two involving hydromorphone and the opposite cost involving cocaine.
Federal Crown legal professional Scott Millar requested the four-year sentence that was imposed by Justice John Mitchell. MacKay requested a shorter sentence of not more than three years.
With credit score for time already served in pre-sentence custody, that request would have allowed MacKay to serve his sentence on the provincial jail.
MacKay added that if federal time was going to be imposed, he wished 41 months.
MacKay has 48 legal convictions since 1997, together with 9 prior drug convictions. In P.E.I. provincial court docket in 2012, MacKay was sentenced to 41 months in jail for drug possession for trafficking functions.
Apart from promoting medication, MacKay was working as a meals supply driver on the time of the offences.
He mentioned he bumped into monetary difficulties because of a foul funding, taking part in on-line poker and playing on sports activities. Dropping cash was how his need and “greed” to amass more cash developed, he mentioned.
“Promoting medication turned an habit for me. The straightforward cash and the life-style was very interesting for me. As I later realized, that way of life comes at a really excessive value,” mentioned MacKay.
Three drug offences
In line with an agreed assertion of info, MacKay and co-accused Kelly Marie Leclair, 43, have been arrested throughout a visitors cease for the primary drug offence involving cocaine on July 14, 2021.
MacKay’s driver’s licence was suspended, so Leclair drove the pair round in his automobile.
Police searched MacKay’s automobile and residential, and seized 23 hydromorphone capsules, 9.95 grams of cocaine divided into 12 small luggage, $13,620 in money, two digital scales and rating sheets. MacKay was launched from police custody on an enterprise.
MacKay’s driver’s licence was not suspended when he was arrested and charged with possessing 42 hydromorphone capsules for trafficking functions on Aug. 17, 2021.
This time, he was driving Leclair’s automobile.
MacKay had a present trigger listening to in provincial court docket and was launched on situations.
However whereas he was launched from custody, MacKay was arrested and charged for a 3rd drug offence on Might 17, 2022.
On that date, MacKay was a passenger in Leclair’s automobile when police discovered objects associated to drug trafficking and unidentified capsules.
Police additionally searched MacKay’s residence and located 46 hydromorphone capsules and one crushed hydromorphone capsule taped behind a household picture in MacKay’s bed room.
MacKay’s cell telephones have been analyzed after every arrest and textual content messages with clients confirmed that he was concerned in drug dealing.
Leclair sat behind the courtroom at MacKay’s sentencing to listen to the drug cost in opposition to her from July 14, 2021, withdrawn by Millar. MacKay apologized in court docket for promoting medication to individuals and the injury he brought on locally.
Freeman of the land
As the costs proceeded in court docket, MacKay and Leclair adopted a “freeman of the land” place and refused to enter pleas or elections.
The court docket entered not responsible pleas on their behalf and elections to P.E.I. Supreme Courtroom so the issues may transfer ahead.
The pair additionally filed an software in P.E.I. Supreme Courtroom difficult the legitimacy and standing of the federal Crown to prosecute the issues. Nonetheless, on April 21, 2022, the court docket dismissed their software.
At sentencing, MacKay defined that he obtained some dangerous recommendation about beating the costs from a freeman of the land activist he is aware of.
Along with custody, MacKay was additionally sentenced to a weapons ban and ordered to offer a pattern of his DNA to authorities.
MacKay was given just below 17 months (or 504 days) of enhanced credit score for time already served.
