Reserve Mines man sentenced on drug charges

Matthew Isaiah Degaust receives three-year federal prison term

A 19-year-old Reserve Mines man with no prior record was sentenced Monday to a threeyear federal prison term after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Matthew Isaiah Degaust, 19, of Holland Street was charged with six counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking. but pleaded guilty Monday to three of those charges involving marijuana, cocaine and oxycodone.

Charges of carrying a weapon dangerous to public peace (pepper stray) and possession of a weapon with no licence were also dismissed.

A co-accused, Katelyn Taylor McInnis, 19, of Birkley Street, Glace Bay, was also facing similar drug trafficking charges but those were also dismissed Monday.

In addition to the jail sentence, Degaust is also to supply a DNA sample to the national registry and is banned from possessing firearms for 10 years. All items seized during the arrest, including drugs and cash, are to be forfeited.

Special federal prosecutor David Iannetti told the court that the Cape Breton Regional Police and RCMP integrated drug unit arrested Degaust on Feb. 22 outside his home and seized some $2,400 in cash.

In searching the home, police seized 183 grams of cocaine, 80 Percocet tablets, 716 grams of marijuana and a quantity of other drugs, including psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and Ritalin.

Iannetti said Degaust was very co-operative with police and assumed full responsibility for the drugs, which resulted in the charges being dismissed against his girlfriend.

Defence lawyer TJ McKeough said his client was extremely remorseful for the pain he’s caused his family and his girlfriend. McKeough said he wants to put the matter behind him and has turned his attention to future goals including completing his high school diploma and establishing a career in the field of auto mechanics.

In accepting the joint Crowndefence sentencing recommendation, provincial court Judge Ann Marie MacInnes said Degaust was a bit of question mark for her, noting no pre-sentence report was requested in the case.

“It is hard for me to try and understand how this happened other than a commercial enterprise,” said the judge.

“It was a very poor decision,” responded Degaust.

The drug business, said the judge, causes a community a lot of harm and is a dangerous trade that can often end in violence, injury and death.

“Selling drugs will not put you where you want to be and now you are going prison, which can be a violent and dangerous place,” said MacInnes.

She added she hoped Degaust was serious about moving forward with his life and that he takes advantage of all programming while in jail.