More probation for man who breached probation order by possessing drugs

A man arrested last fall with crack cocaine and packages of drugs commonly prescribed to opioid addicts was sentenced April 23 in Prince George Provincial Court to two days time served and six months probation. 

Thomas Cody Phillips, 32, pleaded guilty by video from Prince Rupert before Judge Martin Nadon. Phillips admitted breaching probation on Sept. 27, 2024 when a Prince George RCMP officer arrested him for possessing drugs without a prescription.

Phillips had been sentenced to 18 months jail and two years probation on Sept. 29, 2023 for robbery. The judge’s order in that case included a ban on possessing alcohol, drugs or any intoxicating substance without a medical prescription.

Court heard that an RCMP officer on patrol parked his vehicle at Third Avenue and Victoria Street. The officer observed Phillips approach the driver’s side window of an adjacent vehicle on a bicycle. Phillips was handed a plastic bag, glanced around the area and cycled away quickly.

The officer was unable to catch up, but found and arrested Phillips 45 minutes later at the corner of Third Avenue and Brunswick Street. A search revealed Phillips had a clear plastic bag containing two chunks of crack cocaine and three unopened packages containing 14 pills each of hydromorphone — none of which had been prescribed to Phillips.

Court heard that Phillips has worked in carpentry and commercial fishing, but has struggled with substance abuse and mental health since childhood. He became addicted to cocaine by age 16 and survived a fentanyl overdose in 2021. Phillips resided in Lower Mainland recovery programs during the fall and winter.

Nadon said Phillips must also complete 35 hours community service work during his six-month probation sentence.

“It is good news to the court to hear that, in spite of your struggles, that you are seeking help and that you're now back at work,” Nadon said. “So when I take all that into account and the efforts that you're putting in to rejoin society, I am in agreement with counsel that this is an appropriate way to deal with this matter.”