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Prisoner caught with drugs gets another two months

Drugs were found on Bowden Institution inmate during cell search
10824556_web1_171112-EXP-M-Bowden-Institution

A Bowden Institution inmate had two months added to his sentence after he was found with drugs.

Tyler Ratledge pleaded guilty to drug possession in Red Deer provincial court on Wednesday.

Federal Crown prosecutor David Inglis said during an Oct. 8, 2017 cell search corrections officers saw Ratledge try to hide something.

Two toothpaste caps full of a cannabis resin known as “shatter” were discovered.

Inglis said simple drug possession charges tend to draw longer punishments for prisoners. Three to six months is not unusual.

Drugs in prison often lead to assaults, reprisals and feed the prison economy, he said.

“There are a whole manner of difficulties created with drugs within an institution.”

Inglis asked for a two-months sentence, to which the judge agreed. Ratledge is serving a two-year sentence and was due to be released this spring.

Rathledge’s defence lawyer said he has had a 15-year substance abuse problem but has been taking drug programs behind bars and plans to return to work as a framer when he’s released.



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