Drug trafficker pleads guilty to two counts
By Delon Shurtz - Lethbridge Herald on January 25, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDdshurtz@lethbridgeherald.com A Lethbridge man who sold drugs to an undercover police officer on two occasions in 2019, won’t be sentenced until the spring.Brian Robert James, who previously elected to be tried by a Court of King’s Bench judge with a preliminary hearing, instead pleaded guilty last week in Lethbridge provincial court to two counts of drug trafficking. Sentencing was adjourned, however, to allow time for the preparation of a pre-sentence report, which will provide the lawyers and judge information about the offender’s background and circumstances to better help the judge determine a fit sentence.
Court was told that in July 2019 police received information through Crime Stoppers that James was selling cocaine in the Lethbridge area, and could be reached by calling a certain phone number.
An undercover police officer began investigating the suspected drug trafficking and called the cellphone number. A man who identified himself only as Brian arranged to meet the buyer at a convenience store on 23 Street North.
“They met at the parking lot around 2:40 in the afternoon, and Mr. James sold the undercover police officer 0.6 grams of cocaine for $100,” said Federal Crown Prosecutor Mark Klassen.
At about 5:30 p.m. the following day the officer called the cellphone number again and spoke to James, and they arranged to meet at a location on Stafford Drive. The officer drove to the location, picked up James, and while sitting in the vehicle bought 0.4 grams of cocaine for $80.
The matter is scheduled to return to court April 13 for a sentencing hearing, during which the Crown and defence will provide the judge with their recommendations for a sentence. Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter 4
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