A man’s previous transgressions regarding court orders landed him a jail term instead of a community-based sentence on Tuesday.
Terris Gordon Truax, 29, of Lacombe was sentenced to five months in jail for possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, possession of cocaine and failing to comply with a court order, when he appeared in Red Deer provincial court.
Truax, who appeared shaken by Judge Thomas Schollie’s sentence, pleaded guilty last fall. Sentencing was adjourned then to allow for a pre-sentence report.
Truax’s lawyer Lorne Goddard argued for a community sentence but Schollie disagreed.
Goddard said his client has turned his life around by making “substantial changes.”
The judge said the experienced probation officer, who prepared the pre-sentence report, recommended against a community term.
“It’s unusual that an experienced probation officer says he’s not a candidate,” the judge said.
Truax was charged after Lacombe police raided a home in June.
The judge said Truax was caught “red-handed” by police when they raided his residence and that a cellphone was ringing during the bust from a caller who wanted directions to the residence to purchase drugs.
Schollie said Truax moved to Lacombe from Grande Prairie to escape his association with drugs in that community but started selling drugs again to support his habit.
Federal Crown prosecutor Dave Inglis said Truax has a history of disobeying court orders.
He said Truax failed to abstain from conditions imposed by the court for his release after first being arrested in Lacombe.
Inglis said Truax didn’t attend counselling and didn’t report to a probation officer.
During the raid, police seized 99 grams of marijuana and about a gram of cocaine.
Truax was fined $230 for the cocaine possession and breach convictions, which means he will serve an extra two days in jail by defaulting on the fines.
Police also seized $2,165 in Canadian and American cash, prompting a possession of the proceeds of crime charge. That was withdrawn earlier. The money was forfeited to the Crown.
jwilson@www.reddeeradvocate.com