Man turning his life around, but not before friends give undercover cops his phone number to buy cocaine

22-year-old winds up with 90 days

It was a lesser sentence for a man who pled guilty Tuesday to trafficking cocaine, with sentencing highlighting how he has worked to turn his life around.

A 90-day sentence to be served on weekends followed by two-and-a-half years of probation was given to Steve Keith O’Nabigon, 22, for trafficking small amounts of cocaine.

The investigation began in late 2015, when two men — who weren’t O’Nabigon — approached a local police officer at a local bar and offered to sell him cocaine. The officer declined but the men gave him a phone number where he could purchase cocaine should he change his mind. This led undercover police to making multiple purchases of cocaine from O’Nabigon, just under 10 grams, worth $880.

The starting point for sentencing on cocaine trafficking is three years — with that amount going up or down based on the circumstances of the case and accused.

O’Nabigon has no prior record, with defence counsel explaining to the court that at the time the accused was using cocaine, owed $3,000 to a supplier, and “one thing led to another.” The severity of his addiction included at one point overdosing and being hospitalized.

Judge, Crown and defence counsel all made note of how a report compiled on O’Nabigon’s background and upbringing explain how he ended up in this position — and how it was also a positive report due to changes O’Nabigon has made in his life, especially spurred by the birth of his first child.

It’s “clearly understandable” how O’Nabigon was drawn into addiction, said the Federal Crown. But while sympathetic, the “fact remains” that he was trafficking cocaine, said the Crown, requesting a 12 to 18 month sentence, and 12 months probation.

Defence counsel requested a suspended sentence and period of probation — or barring that, a 90-day sentence that could be served on weekends, and probation.

The past year has been a “real turning point” in O’Nabigon’s life, defence noted, as he works toward further education, is employed and has good family support.

O’Nabigon appears to have “turned his life around” said Judge Fischer, in handing down the sentence. “He is now on the right track.”