A 43-year-old Moose Jaw man was sentenced to 15 months in prison in Moose Jaw Provincial Court recently, after pleading guilty to numerous drug and weapon offences.
Jason Carey pleaded guilty to charges including possession of psilocybin (also known as magic mushrooms), possession of cocaine, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a weapon while prohibited.
In the statement of facts, police executed a search warrant on a residence on Aug. 23, 2023. There was a woman and children in the house. Police asked the woman and children to leave. Carey was arrested although he yelled through a window that the police were there making arrests.
Police searched Carey’s bedroom and found items including two scales with white residue, baking soda for a cutting agent, baggies of psilocybin, and baggies of 1.5 grams of crystal meth. On top of the air conditioner, police found a cardboard flap that was used to reach outside.
The police also found scoresheets, unstamped cigarettes, live ammunition, and small baggies. In the bathroom, the tub was full of water and police believe it was an attempt to dispose of drugs.
On Dec. 12, 2023, police received information about drugs being purchased from a residence. They once again returned to the home and arrested Carey and his girlfriend, Teanika Trew-Gawley.
A search of Carey and Trew-Gawley’s bedroom found ziplock bags, baggies, a scale with residue, scoresheets, a bat with nails, a CO2 pistol and holster, BB guns, airsoft rifles, swords, knives, and Carey had 0.5 grams of methamphetamine on him. Carey was also out on a release order at the time.
A police analysis of the BB guns and airsoft rifles indicated they reached 214 feet per second, which is greater than the threshold to be classified as a firearm.
Then on April 21, 2024, while Carey was out on a release order, police executed a search warrant of his residence and found weapons, baggies, scoresheets, and a number of dirt bikes in the yard, including one that was reported stolen.
Federal Crown Prosecutor Suzanne Young noted the aggravating factors were that he had committed similar crimes within a few months, even while on a release order. However, she did take into consideration that the guilty plea would avoid a preliminary inquiry and trial that would have taken up 10 to 15 days of the court’s time.
Young added that the amounts of drugs were not aggravating, and she was “relieved” by the lack of fentanyl, saying it was clear the trafficking was not a sophisticated or profitable endeavour.
Legal Aid Lawyer Brendan Pyle said Carey has children and being incarcerated has been hard for him.
“It has severely cost him lots of time with his family,” Pyle told the court.
When asked if he wanted to address the court, Carey said, “I’m sorry all this happened. It was my bad and I’m going to have to accept what is going to happen.”
Judge David Chow agreed to the joint submission of 15 months. Carey spent 172 actual days in custody pre-sentencing and was credited with 258 days, leaving him 192 days left to serve.