Possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling
R. v. Bazuta
Sentence and the Crown's position
A conditional sentence is served in the community, usually under house arrest. It counts as no custody here.
What the law allows
Matthew Kerry Bazuta pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling under the Cannabis Act, after police seized 22.5 kilograms of cannabis products from his Langley home following reports of shots fired there. Crown and defence jointly proposed a conditional sentence. Justice Girn accepted the joint submission and imposed a conditional sentence order of two years less a day, noting he had no criminal record, had pleaded guilty and was no longer involved in the illicit cannabis trade.
In the judge's words
1[28] I am confident with regard to this proposed sentence that informed members of the public would find it is appropriate and would maintain confidence in the administration of justice.
The record
Sources
- R. v. Bazuta, 2023 BCSC 2598 Court decision, CanLII, September 6, 2023
[6] Counsel have proposed a joint submission of a conditional sentence. … [30] Based on the joint submissions of your counsel and Crown, I impose the following sentence. You will be sentenced to a conditional sentence order for two years less a day.
[6] Counsel have proposed a joint submission of a conditional sentence. … [30] Based on the joint submissions of your counsel and Crown, I impose the following sentence. You will be sentenced to a conditional sentence order for two years less a day.
[2] Mr. Bazuta entered a guilty plea to Count 1 on the Indictment to unlawfully possessing cannabis for the purpose of selling it contrary to s. 10(2) of the Cannabis Act, S.B.C. 2018, c. 29 [Act].
[10] Mr. Bazuta is 38 years old. He has no criminal record.
[28] I am confident with regard to this proposed sentence that informed members of the public would find it is appropriate and would maintain confidence in the administration of justice.
[30] Based on the joint submissions of your counsel and Crown, I impose the following sentence. You will be sentenced to a conditional sentence order for two years less a day.
- Cannabis Act, s. 10 Record, Justice Laws Website
- R. v. Bazuta, 2023 BCSC 2598 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia