Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking, Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm, Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized, Contravention of firearm storage regulations
R. v. Sohi
- Below the Crown's ask
Sentence and the Crown's position
What the law allows
Robinder Singh Sohi pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and a benzodiazepine for the purpose of trafficking and to four firearms offences, after police found drugs and a loaded Glock pistol in his car in September 2022. The Crown sought six years, made up of consecutive three-year sentences for the drugs and the firearm. Justice Gottardi imposed a global sentence of four years with the firearms sentences concurrent, finding the gun was part of a single low-level dial-a-dope endeavour and noting that Sohi was a first-time offender.
In the judge's words
1Mr. Sohi, while still fixed with a high level of moral blameworthiness, is also a first-time offender. He was not subject to a previous firearms prohibition at the time of his offending. I also find that he was a relatively unsophisticated participant in what the police expert found to be a low-level dial-a-dope operation. While this conduct is serious and subject to significant moral opprobrium, I do not find that the imposition of a concurrent sentence would undermine the principles of denunciation and deterrence in any way.
The record
- Convicted of
- Possession of a Schedule I or II substance for the purpose of trafficking (CDSA 5(2))
- Possession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm (CC 95(1))
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose (CC 88)
- Possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized (CC 92(1))
- Contravention of firearm storage regulations (CC 86(2))
- Prior convictions
- 0 prior convictions1
- At the time of the offence
- Not stated1
- Defence asked for
- 3 years in custody1
- Appeal
- Not yet checked
- Counsel
- Crown: C.A. Sauder
Defence: W. Jessop
Sources
- R. v. Sohi, 2025 BCSC 2484 Court decision, CanLII, December 8, 2025
[2] This is a contested sentencing hearing. The Crown submits that a global sentence of six years' imprisonment is a fit and proper sentence for Mr. Sohi. Essentially, the six-year global sentence is a product of two consecutive three-year sentences, one for the drug offences and one for the firearm-related offences.
[58] The defence asks this Court to impose concurrent sentences on all counts. … a) Count 1: PPT (as amended) - 2 years; … b) Count 4: s. 95(1) firearms offence - 36 months; and … c) the remaining firearms counts to be 24-36 months.
[1] The accused, Robinder Singh Sohi, pled guilty to trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and a benzodiazepine (namely, desalkylgidazepam[1]) as well as to four separate firearms-related counts.
[61] First, Mr. Sohi comes before this Court with no criminal record and is to be sentenced as a first-time offender.
Mr. Sohi, while still fixed with a high level of moral blameworthiness, is also a first-time offender. He was not subject to a previous firearms prohibition at the time of his offending. I also find that he was a relatively unsophisticated participant in what the police expert found to be a low-level dial-a-dope operation. While this conduct is serious and subject to significant moral opprobrium, I do not find that the imposition of a concurrent sentence would undermine the principles of denunciation and deterrence in any way.
[91] Balancing all of the relevant factors, I am of the view that a global sentence of four (4) years is a proportionate, fit and proper sentence.
- Criminal Code, s. 95 Record, Justice Laws Website
- R. v. Sohi, 2025 BCSC 2484 Court decision, Courts of British Columbia