Woman sentenced to year in jail on drug charges
By Lethbridge Herald on September 19, 2020.
Delon Shurtz
lethbridge herald
A 45-year-old Lethbridge woman caught selling drugs from her residence has been sent to jail.
Cindy Ann Androkovich, who pleaded guilty last month to charges of drug possession, drug possession for the purpose of trafficking and failing to comply with release conditions, was sentenced Thursday in Lethbridge provincial court to one year in jail.
Court was told police received complaints in 2019 about unusual activity at a northside residence, and following an investigation discovered Androkovich was selling drugs from her home. Police conducted surveillance on the home several times between June and September and, after witnessing drug trafficking, searched the residence and found 3.5 grams of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia.
Androkovich was arrested, but released shortly afterward on several conditions, including she obey a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. every day.
However, at about 10:25 p.m. on March 25 police saw her drive by and noticed suspicious behaviour consistent with drug trafficking. They conducted a traffic stop, searched her vehicle, and found 2.6 grams of crack cocaine, a scale and cellphones.
Androkovich was arrested and released again, but placed on 24-hour house arrest. She breached that condition, as well, and on July 29 she drove by police again, who stopped her and found 0.8 grams of crack cocaine.
Androkovich was in custody at the Lethbridge Correctional Centre when she pleaded guilty in August, but she wasn’t sentenced. The judge agreed to release her on bail so she could arrange care for her husband — who had been seriously injured in an accident — before she went to jail.
“There better be no further breaches,” the judge warned her before releasing her on $5,000 no-cash bail, and a $250 cash deposit. He also ordered her to report to the jail on Sept. 16 for her sentencing the following day.
During her sentencing Thursday, Calgary lawyer Paul Moreau pointed out that while it was obvious his client was selling drugs, it was just minimal street-level trafficking, not a large-scale, commercial operation, which would have warranted a longer sentence. He also noted Androkovich was only selling drugs to support her own drug addiction.
Androkovich was credited 45 days for time spent in pre-trial custody, leaving her with 10 1/2 months to serve. She will also be on probation for one year after she is released, during which time she must be assessed and receive treatment and counselling as directed by her probation officer.
Follow @DShurtzHerald on Twitter
15-14
