ATHABASCA — A former Boyle resident avoided trial and further jail time for breaching a conditional sentence order (CSO) after being found with meth and alcohol during an RCMP search for stolen property in August.
Richard Wilfred Perrier pleaded guilty to one count of breaching his CSO, a sentence to be served in the community rather than in custody, via possession of drugs and alcohol in Boyle Court of Justice Sept. 24. As a result of his plea, an additional charge of CSO breach was withdrawn by the provincial Crown.
Perrier was found by members of Boyle RCMP conducting a search warrant on an acreage south of the village in relation to stolen property on Aug. 21. He was located inside a vehicle, and after being asked to exit, officers discovered alcohol and a small amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle.
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The accused, now a resident of Swan Hills, was placed on a five-month CSO on June 11 by Justice Gordon Putnam after pleading guilty to housebreaking with intent to commit theft. One condition of his sentence was to avoid possessing and using drugs and alcohol.
In spite of the breach conviction, Perrier will serve the remainder of his CSO in the community instead of in custody. He was arrested during the search warrant execution on Aug. 21 and spent more than 30 days in the Edmonton Remand Centre awaiting resolution.
“Mr. Perrier has been bail denied for just over a month now on this CSO breach, spending a fifth of his CSO in custody,” said provincial Crown prosecutor Taylor Noble, who asked for no action taken by the courts.
“When you’re released starting today, you’re back on your conditional sentence,” said Justice Robert Shaigec. “Ensure you comply with the conditions, because obviously today serves as an example as to what happens if you don’t, which is that you’re arrested and placed in custody where you’ll remain for some time.”
Federal Crown prosecutor Diane Cho withdrew a third charge of possession of a controlled substance with the conditions of forfeiture of the meth and all other items seized during the Aug. 21 search.
“He did advise he’s very remorseful and he’s looking forward to completing the rest of his conditional sentence,” said defence counsel Ralph Epelle.
