A former Prince George man was sentenced Thursday to time served and three years probation on a count of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.
Crown counsel had been seeking nine months in jail for David Shane Burlew, but B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale found he had met the threshold for "exceptional circumstances."
In September, co-accused Colin Michaud Durrand was issued a three-year suspended sentence also on a count of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.
But Durrand did not have a criminal record at the time of his arrest while Burlew had a previous drug-related conviction. However, Tindale also noted Burlew pleaded guilty, as did Durrand, and has since turned his life around.
He said Burlew has had a significant and ongoing drug-addiction problem throughout most of his adult life. By 2007, Burlew had cleaned up but two months before his arrest on the most-recent matter he had a relapse.
Since then, Burlew, who no longer lives in Prince George, has remained off drugs and is now gainfully employed, supports his aging mother, has strong support in the community and is an avid volunteer, Tindale noted.
Burlew, Durrand were arrested in October 2015. Burlew and Durrand became the subject of a investigation after RCMP received a tip the two may be dealing in drugs.
The matter came to a head on when RCMP allegedly spotted another man heading to Burlew's home, allegedly carrying a .38 calibre revolver, indicating they were either going to strong-arm someone or use it for protection.
The three plus one more man were then seen getting into Burlew's pickup truck. When RCMP converged on the vehicle at a local motel, they found 21 grams of methamphetamine along with packaging materials and scales in the vehicle.
Burlew had spent 49 days in custody following his arrest.
Charges against Jeremy James Mole related to the gun were eventually stayed following a trial.
Charges were also stayed against the fourth man arrested at the scene.
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