15 months given to man who sold meth to Craigslist cops

A Medicine Hat man will serve 15 months in prison after selling meth to undercover police officers.

David Lehner entered guilty pleas in December 2016 to two counts of drug trafficking, but sentencing was pushed back to this Thursday for a pre-sentencing report and other evaluations.

Lehner was arrested after responding to a Craigslist ad posted by local police asking to purchase meth, and then making multiple sales to an undercover officer.

During sentencing it was noted that Lehner has no prior record related to drugs — although he does have an addiction which he is now trying to address.

“There’s some significant hope that part of going into custody is going to serve a rehabilitative purpose,” said defence counsel James Rouleau.

Judge Dietrich Brand also warned Lehner that a failure to address his addiction will lead to more trouble with the law — and that rehabilitation with an addiction is an ongoing thing.

“You have to fight it for the rest of your life ... now it’s up to you to make it work.”

Trials set

A Dec. 20 trial was set Thursday for a man residing in Sylvan Lake who faces drug trafficking charges.

David Legge has entered not-guilty pleas to one count of trafficking a controlled substance, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose and possession of property obtained by crime.

Trial dates of Jan. 8-9 were set for three people jointly facing drug trafficking charges. Kyle Cozart faces three counts of trafficking and two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, release breach charges and possessing a weapon for dangerous purposes. April North faces one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and simple possession. Michael Joseph Willson faces one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Plea

A drug-trafficking charge was reduced to a simple possession charge Monday for a local man.

John Mueller pled down to two counts of possession, one for heroin and one for cocaine, receiving a 45-day sentence considered served.

Mueller was arrested April 26 after police pulled over the car he was in and found in him in possession of gram of cocaine and 3.38 grams of heroin. The original charge over the heroin was one of possession for the purpose of trafficking.

While these charges have now been settled, the 60-yearold man still faces a different set of charges following a drug bust in March of this year, which include meth and heroin trafficking charges.