R. v. Ilesic (B.C.), (2000) 271 A.R. 195 (CA)

• Court: Court of Appeal (Alberta)
• Case Date: November 15, 1999
• Citations: (2000), 271 A.R. 195 (CA)

R. v. Ilesic (B.C.) (2000), 271 A.R. 195 (CA);

    234 W.A.C. 195

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2000] A.R. TBEd. OC.042

Her Majesty The Queen (appellant) v. Brian Curtis Ilesic (respondent)

(9903-0381-A)

Indexed As: R. v. Ilesic (B.C.)

Alberta Court of Appeal

Russell, Berger, JJ.A., and Lutz, J.(ad hoc)

September 27, 2000.

Summary:

The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in cocaine. The trial judge sentenced the accused to 90 days' intermit­tent incarceration and two years' probation. The Crown appealed.

The Alberta Court of Appeal, Berger, J.A., dissenting, allowed the appeal and con­sidering time already served and the com­munity service performed, substituted a sentence of three months' imprisonment.

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.5

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Sentence precedents - Starting point principle - During an investigation of a dial-a-doper operation, the 19 year old accused sold cocaine to a civilian agent on two occasions involving one gram and 1.5 grams - The accused pleaded guilty to trafficking - He provided information to police regarding the location of the prem­ises where drugs were trafficked - Cocaine addict - Short, unrelated record - The trial judge sentenced the accused to 90 days' intermittent incarceration and two years' probation - The Alberta Court of Appeal allowed the Crown's appeal - The trial judge failed to apply the starting point approach and gave paramount con­sideration to the accused's rehabilitation without proper regard to the danger to the community - The court held that a proper sentence would have been 12 months' imprisonment, but because of time already served and the community service per­formed, substituted a sentence of three months' imprisonment - See paragraphs 1 to 8.

Criminal Law - Topic 5846.5

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Sentence precedents - Starting point principle - The Alberta Court of Appeal stated that "While departure from the starting point itself is not a ground for appellate intervention, failure to commence crafting a sentence from that base does warrant a review by this court." - See paragraph 6.

Criminal Law - Topic 5850

Sentence - Trafficking in a narcotic - [See first Criminal Law - Topic 5846.5 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 6203

Sentencing - Appeals - Variation of sen­tence - Grounds for varying sentence im­posed by trial judge - [See second Crim­inal Law - Topic 5846.5 ].

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Gladue (J.T.), [1999] 1 S.C.R. 688; 238 N.R. 1; 121 B.C.A.C. 161; 198 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 2].

R. v. Beaudry (M.J.) (2000), 271 A.R. 291 (C.A.), refd to. [paras. 5, 12].

R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 61; 249 N.R. 201; 142 Man.R.(2d) 161; 212 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [paras. 5, 11].

R. v. Maskill (1981), 29 A.R. 107; 58 C.C.C.(2d) 408 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 10].

R. v. Maskell - see R. v. Maskill.

R. v. Chung (S.B.) (1993), 135 A.R. 351; 33 W.A.C. 351 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Harrison (N.J.) (1998), 212 A.R. 40; 168 W.A.C. 40; 122 C.C.C.(3d) 572 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Getty (1990), 104 A.R. 180 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. J.T.Q. (1999), 244 A.R. 369; 209 W.A.C. 369 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Spina (M.) (1997), 200 A.R. 133; 146 W.A.C. 133 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. Stone (B.T.), [1999] 2 S.C.R. 290; 239 N.R. 201; 123 B.C.A.C. 1; 201 W.A.C. 1; 134 C.C.C.(3d) 353, refd to. [para. 12].

R. v. D.J.G (1999), 232 A.R. 128; 195 W.A.C. 128 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. G.W. (1999), 247 N.R. 135; 181 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 139; 550 A.P.R. 139 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 13].

R. v. Wells (J.W.), [2000] 1 S.C.R. 207; 250 N.R. 364; 250 A.R. 273; 213 W.A.C. 273, refd to. [para. 14].

R. v. Brady (J.R.) (1998), 209 A.R. 321; 160 W.A.C. 321; 121 C.C.C.(3d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 17].

R. v. McDonnell (T.E.), [1997] 1 S.C.R. 948; 210 N.R. 241; 196 A.R. 321; 141 W.A.C. 321; 114 C.C.C.(3d) 436, refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81; 105 C.C.C.(3d) 327, refd to. [para.23].

R. v. Shropshire (M.T.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 227; 188 N.R. 284; 65 B.C.A.C. 37; 106 W.A.C. 37; 102 C.C.C.(3d) 193, refd to. [para. 23].

Counsel:

D.R. Valgardson, for the appellant;

D. Bottos, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on November 15, 1999, before Russell, Berger, JJ.A., and Lutz, J.(ad hoc), of the Alberta Court of Appeal. The decision of the Court of Appeal was delivered on September 27, 2000, and the following opinions were filed:

Russell, J.A. (Lutz, J.(ad hoc), concurr­ing) - see paragraphs 1 to 8;

Berger, J.A., dissenting - see paragraphs 9 to 23.