R. v. Spence (D.), 2014 SKQB 171

• Judge: Gabrielson, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Saskatchewan (Canada)
• Case Date: June 11, 2014
• Jurisdiction: Saskatchewan
• Citations: 2014 SKQB 171;(2014), 448 Sask.R. 77 (QB)

R. v. Spence (D.) (2014), 448 Sask.R. 77 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] Sask.R. TBEd. JL.032

Her Majesty the Queen v. Danielle Spence

(2013 C.R. No. 25; 2014 SKQB 171)

Indexed As: R. v. Spence (D.)

Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial Centre of Prince Albert

Gabrielson, J.

June 11, 2014.

Summary:

The accused pled guilty to trafficking in marijuana in an amount not exceeding three kilograms and possession of marijuana in an amount not exceeding three kilograms for the purpose of trafficking. She was also found guilty of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The accused had trafficked into a penal institution where she was employed as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer.

The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench imposed a total sentence of 18 months' imprisonment. The court also imposed a weapons prohibition order, a forfeiture order in respect of items seized as part of the accused's arrest, and a DNA order.

Criminal Law - Topic 5720.4

Punishments (sentence) - Conditional sentence - When available or appropriate - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5831.1

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Offences involving breach of trust - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5833

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Deterrence - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5848.7

Sentencing - Considerations on imposing sentence - Denunciation or repudiation of conduct - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5850

Sentence - Trafficking in a narcotic or a controlled drug or substance (incl. possession for the purpose of trafficking) - [See Criminal Law - Topic 5853 ].

Criminal Law - Topic 5853

Sentence - Trafficking in hashish or marijuana (incl. possession for the purpose of trafficking) - The accused pled guilty to trafficking in marijuana in an amount not exceeding three kilograms and possession of marijuana in an amount not exceeding three kilograms for the purpose of trafficking - She was also found guilty of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking - The accused had trafficked into a penal institution where she was employed as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer - The quantity of drugs was relatively small (56 grams of marijuana and 10 grams of cocaine) - The accused was 26 years old at the time of the offence and 28 at the time of sentencing - She had no prior criminal record - She had a young child who was still breastfeeding - Assessed as a low risk to re-offend - The Crown sought a custodial sentence of three and one half years - Defence counsel sought a conditional sentence of one year to be served in the community - The Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench imposed a total sentence of 18 months' imprisonment - The court also imposed a weapons prohibition, a forfeiture order in respect of items seized as part of the accused's arrest, and a DNA order - A jail sentence was required to denounce the accused's conduct in bringing drugs into a penal institution when she was an employee at that institution and to deter others from doing so.

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; 133 C.C.C.(3d) 385, refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Calder (A.) (2011), 309 N.S.R.(2d) 12; 979 A.P.R. 12; 2011 NSSC 312, affd. (2012), 312 N.S.R.(2d) 1; 987 A.P.R. 1; 2012 NSCA 3, dist. [para. 19].

R. v. Taylor (B.M.) (2012), 401 Sask.R. 292; 2012 SKQB 292, affd. (2013), 414 Sask.R. 15; 575 W.A.C. 15; 2013 SKCA 33, dist. [para. 19].

R. v. Moore (R.B.), [2009] B.C.T.C. Uned. 1926; 2009 BCSC 1926, dist. [para. 19].

R. v. David (T.C.) (2013), 327 N.S.R.(2d) 306; 1036 A.P.R. 306; 2013 NSSC 83, dist. [para. 19].

R. v. McLachlan (B.) (2013), 424 Sask.R. 48; 2013 SKQB 332, dist. [para. 20].

R. v. Von Hagen (K.) (2008), 314 Sask.R. 77; 435 W.A.C. 77; 2008 SKCA 123, dist. [para. 20].

R. v. Phan (H.H.) et al., [2002] 4 W.W.R. 137; 213 Sask.R. 245; 260 W.A.C. 245; 2002 SKCA 8, refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. McIntyre (M.R.) (2012), 405 Sask.R. 28; 563 W.A.C. 28; 2012 SKCA 111, refd to. [para. 27].

R. v. Switucka (T.Z.) (2009), 342 Sask.R. 316; 2009 SKQB 372, refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. English (2008), 58 C.R.(6th) 354; 2008 QCCQ 5069, refd to. [para. 30].

R. v. Bell, 2005 ONCJ 438, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Domke (M.) (2006), 400 A.R. 112; 68 Alta. L.R.(4th) 372; 2006 ABPC 252, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Klassen, 2008 YKTC 64, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Johnson (J.R.), [2013] Yukon Cases Uned. 46; 2013 YKTC 46, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Bertoli, 2013 ONCJ 763, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Taylor (E.) (2013), 337 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 24; 1047 A.P.R. 24; 2013 NLCA 42, refd to. [para. 34].

R. v. Ipeelee (M.), [2012] 1 S.C.R. 433; 428 N.R. 1; 288 O.A.C. 224; 318 B.C.A.C. 1; 541 W.A.C. 1; 2012 SCC 13, refd to. [para. 35].

R. v. Kienapple, [1975] 1 S.C.R. 729; 1 N.R. 322; 44 D.L.R.(3d) 351, refd to. [para. 36].

R. v. Pankewich (K.J.) et al., [2002] 4 W.W.R. 648; 217 Sask.R. 111; 265 W.A.C. 111; 2002 SKCA 7, refd to. [para. 38].

R. v. K.J.P. - see R. v. Pankewich (K.J.).

R. v. Beaven (T.) (2013), 415 Sask.R. 279; 2013 SKQB 91, refd to. [para. 46].

R. v. Dexter (K.K.) (2013), 411 Sask.R. 254; 2013 SKQB 18, refd to. [para. 46].

R. v. Leitner (T.K.) (2013), 411 Sask.R. 79; 2013 SKQB 1, refd to. [para. 46].

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; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 47].

R. v. Laliberte (M.R.), [2000] 4 W.W.R. 491; 189 Sask.R. 190; 216 W.A.C. 190; 2000 SKCA 27, refd to. [para. 47].

Counsel:

Caroline K. Andriashek, for the Crown;

Peter A. Abrametz, for the accused.

This matter was heard before Gabrielson, J., of the Saskatchewan Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial Centre of Prince Albert, who delivered the following oral judgment on June 11, 2014.