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Man jailed after handing bag of crack over to the police

A Red Deer man pleaded guilty to possession of drugs after he walked into the Red Deer RCMP detachment and presented a bag of crack cocaine to the front desk.

A Red Deer man pleaded guilty to possession of drugs after he walked into the Red Deer RCMP detachment and presented a bag of crack cocaine to the front desk.

Justin Yakimchuk, 21, of Red Deer entered the plea on Tuesday in Red Deer provincial court in front of Judge Gordon Deck.

Crown prosecutor Dave Inglis said it was an unusual circumstance that led to his arrest. Yakimchuk entered the Red Deer detachment on Feb. 11 at 9:48 a.m. and went to the front counter holding a 35-gram bag of crack cocaine. Inside, the crack was portioned into separate bags.

Inglis said when the accused attended the detachment he stood swaying back and forth and was believed to be intoxicated.

Yakimchuk didn’t say anything, just put the drugs on the counter.

He was also charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking, but Inglis said he would have a problem proving that charge due to the unusual nature of the way Yakimchuk surrendered.

“His actions don’t show it,” said Inglis.

Yakimchuk’s defence counsel Walter Kubanek said his client has a history of drug use and was unhappy that he had returned to that lifestyle.

His solution to the problem was to turn himself in with the drugs and give it up cold turkey.

“It was rather unusual,” said Kubanek.

Declining to comment prior to sentencing, Yakimchuk gazed out into the audience throughout the proceedings, showing little emotion.

Inglis and Kubanek filed a joint submission on sentencing, suggesting Yakimchuk serve six months in custody and have a year of probation afterwards.

Deck agreed with the submission and sentenced Yakimchuk to six months jail, minus the 50 days he spent in predisposition custody. The brings his jail sentence to four months and 10 days.

Deck also agreed with the suggestion of probation, saying it could help with Yakimchuk’s drug rehabilitation. Conditions of his probation include attending counselling, treatment or programs his probation officer suggests may help with his rehabilitation, and to not consume alcohol, drugs or intoxicants.

As a result of the guilty plea for the possession of drugs charge, Yakimchuk was found not guilty of the possession for the purpose of trafficking charge.

mcrawford@www.reddeeradvocate.com