A Mackenzie man has been sentenced to two years and four months in jail for possessing opioids and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.
Michael Kenneth Robert Matson, 35, was issued the term Friday in relation to a seizure on October 25, 2019 of 30.9 grams of heroin-fentanyl and 64.1 grams of methamphetamine from the 221 Crysdale Drive home where he had been living. Police also seized 2.5 grams of cocaine for which Matson was charged with simple possession.
Crown counsel had been seeking as much as two years and 10 months while defence counsel argued for a conditional sentence order - effectively house arrest.
In issuing his decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale found that Matson lacked the "exceptional circumstances" that would have warranted a sentence of less than two years and a day, thus making a conditional sentence order out of the question.
He also noted that Matson has a criminal record that includes numerous breaches and was on probation at the time the drugs were seized. In March 2019, he had been sentenced to 18 months probation on a count of possessing a controlled substance. And the amounts seized were large, Tindale found.
As such, he said denunciation and deterrence were the primary considerations on sentencing.
But he did provide Matson with a "considerable discount" for the efforts he has made since then to turn his life around. They have included gaining employment, remaining sober and getting counselling and treatment for addiction.
Matson "has done a lot of work toward his rehabilitation."
Tindale also accepted that Matson is genuinely remorseful for his actions and was selling the drugs to support his habit as opposed to simply make money.
Meanwhile, the director continues to seek a court order to have the Crysdale Drive property forfeited to the provincial government. A notice of claim seeking the order was filed in August 2022 and remains before the court.
