A man found guilty of carrying out a drug deal in the parking lot of a Central Street restaurant was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in jail.
Kelly Michael Richet, 32, was issued the term in Prince George provincial court on one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking from an April 2016 arrest.
He was apprehended after police saw him carry out a "hand-to-hand" exchange. Richet contended he was merely buying cocaine for personal use and admitted to one count of possession.
But he claimed he was unaware of the 15 grams of methamphetamine found in a bag tucked under the rear bench seat, noting he was driving a borrowed truck. However, text messages found on his phone showed otherwise, judge Michael Gray had found.
Richet had been in custody for 396 days prior to sentencing. He was also issued a 10-year firearms prohibition, sentenced to 30 days on the possession count, and assessed $400 in victim surcharges.
Three other people were arrested as part of the investigation.
A trial for Mitchell Allen Crosby and Kylan Annaliese Franks on five drugs and firearms-related counts is set for June. Charges against Miranda Leigh Dingwall were stayed.
