Man sentenced for drugs and $1,058 found in his pockets

EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the amount of money found on the accused. In fact it was $1,058

Aaron Lapossie's pockets were filled with drugs and wads of cash a city police officer discovered two years ago after he stopped a vehicle travelling the wrong way on a downtown street.

It was 2:40 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2020, when the officer initiated the Highway Traffic Act stop on Andrew Street, Ontario Court Justice Heather Mendes heard Monday.

The cop noticed the smell of cannabis, questioned the driver, then searched the vehicle and its occupants, federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard said.

Lapossie, who was a passenger in the vehicle, pleaded guilty to two counts of  possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking,

The offences involved cocaine and methamphetamine.

Pritchard said the accused had 14.77 grams of cocaine and 3.36 grams of meth.

Three wads of cash - totalling $1,058 - were located in the pocket of his jeans.

Defence lawyer Eric McCooeye and the prosecutor jointly recommended that the 24-year-old man, who has no prior criminal record, receive an 18-month conditional sentence.

There "certainly were triable issues," McCooeye told the judge. 

The search was conducted purportedly under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act because of the smell of cannabis, but no cannabis was found, he said.

His client has been on bail for more than two years and there have been no breaches of the order, the defence said.

Lapossie has been "living appropriately" and following the conditions.

A custodial sentence is appropriate, and it should be a conditional one which would be served in the community, McCooeye said.

When she imposed the sentence, Mendes said given there were triable issues involving the search, it is a fit and appropriate sentence.

"The charges are very serious," and it "will be a hard lesson" for Lapossie to learn moving forward, she said.

During the first six months, he will be under house arrest, and can only leave his residence for medical emergencies or with the written permission of his sentence supervisor.

He also is permitted to be out on Wednesdays between noon and 5 p.m. to obtain the necessities of life.

In the following six months, he will have a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, and will be under conditions during the final six months.

Throughout the sentence, he must undergo recommended assessments and counselling.

As well, he can't buy, possess or consume alcohol and intoxicating substances.

A conditional sentence is "jail time" and this restriction is appropriate, the judge said.

Mendes also imposed a 10-year weapons prohibition and ordered Lapossie to provide a DNA sample for the national database.

She also ordered forfeiture of the narcotics, money and drug paraphernalia, including cell phones and scales, seized by police.

Two other charges stemming from the incident were withdrawn at the request of the Crown.