Man to face several months of probation
By Shurtz, Delon on April 2, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
lethbridge herald
A 33-year-old man who was sentenced to time served for several criminal offences last year will still be on probation for several months.
Craig Cassidy Sweetgrass was sentenced to seven months in jail Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to charges of drug possession, drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Although his sentence is considered completed because he has already spent the equivalent of seven months in custody, he was also placed on probation for nine months, during which he must be assessed and receive counselling as directed by his probation officer.
Court was told Sweetgrass was the driver of a vehicle pulled over by Lethbridge police Oct. 21, 2019. Police noticed open liquor containers in the vehicle, and during a search found 12.7 grams of methamphetamine, scales and a canister of bear spray.
A week later Sweetgrass was the passenger in the same vehicle, but it was parked when police approached and saw several open cans of beer. Sweetgrass was ordered out of the vehicle and police noticed a package containing 11 grams methamphetamine.
Calgary lawyer Lisa Burgis Der told court her client was 32 years old when he committed his first crime as an adult, a break and enter which led to the drug and weapon offences.
Der pointed out Sweetgrass had a traumatic break-up with the mother of his two children, following an “interlude” she had with his cousin. He continues to grieve and turned to drugs to numb the pain. That led to an addiction and drug trafficking.
“I would just like to say sorry for what I did,” Sweetgrass told the judge. “I learned a lot from being in jail. I don’t want to be here anymore.”
Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter
13-12
