A 22-year-old Yorkton man will spend the next four months under house arrest after pleading guilty July 14 to marijuana and magic mushroom trafficking.
On April 17, RCMP executed a search warrant at the residence of Tyson Shewchuk where they discovered approximately 495 grams of marijuana, 79 grams of magic mushrooms, nearly $1,500 in cash and assorted trafficking paraphernalia.
Shewchuk pleaded guilty to one count each of possession for the purpose of trafficking marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking magic mushrooms and possession of the proceeds of crime.
The Crown dropped two other trafficking charges, one count of simple possession and one count of possession of a prohibited weapon.
Federal prosecutor Shane Wagner cited an admission that Shewchuk had sold to 16 and 17-year-olds as an aggravating circumstance that was not applicable to sentencing as the amounts of marijuana was less than three kilograms. He said mitigating circumstances included a complete lack of criminal record, cooperation with police and an early guilty plea.
The defence added that his client had since changed his lifestyle, was living with his parents, had obtained employment and had cut ties with his former associates.
Judge Ross Green accepted a joint submission by Crown and defence for an 18-month conditional sentence.
In addition to the statutory conditions, Shewchuk must live at an approved residence, is subject to a 24-hour curfew for the first four months and an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew for the remaining 14 months, must refrain from alcohol and non-prescription drugs, participate in addiction treatment programs as prescribed by probation services, maintain employment or education and submit to searches of his residence and/or person at the request of police.
The judge also imposed the mandatory 10-year firearm prohibition.
Shewchuk also forfeits the cash and various other property including scales, a safe, a cell phone, a computer and a machete.
