One of three people arrested in relation to a major drug seizure was sentenced Wednesday to time served after showing signs he has been turning his life around.
Kurt Werner Steinhauser, 34, was in custody for 195 days following his December 2015 arrest. He was released on an undertaking in September 2016 so he could attend a treatment centre.
Despite a lengthy record of drug and property-related offences, Steinhauser has since made a "clean break," the court was told.
He was arrested when police found him behind the wheel of a pickup truck reported stolen from a rural Prince George home. Steinhauser had been convinced to deliver the truck to a purchaser, the court was told.
Police watched the truck's licence plates being changed and then swooped in. A "pocketful of meth" was found on Steinhauser who had been paid in drugs for his services, the court was told.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to trafficking in stolen property over $5,000 and possession of a controlled substance.
An addiction to drugs had "full control" of Steinhauser at the time of the arrest. He was released to attend the treatment centre and to "effectively write his own sentence." He now has a job lined up as a camp cook.
Steinhauser must still serve one year probation and among the conditions he must continue to attend, participate and complete any counseling or program as directed by the probation officer.
The sentence was a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels.
Three other people were also arrested and James Henry MacKean, 38, and Rhianna Marilyn Skorepa, 26, were charged.
At the time, RCMP said evidence found at the scene led police to a Nechako Drive home where they seized 22 ounces of illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin, with a street value of $50,000, as well as $17,000 cash and other drug-related evidence.
Trafficking charges against MacKean and Skorepa remain before the court.
