One year for selling small amount of meth to undercover police

A 42-year-old Medicine Hat man was sentenced to a oneyear jail term Thursday for selling a small amount of methamphetamine to undercover officers.

Due to time spent in custody, Travis McNab was given 186 days credit toward this sentence.

According to the agreed statement of facts, police were investigating a man suspected of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine through a cellphone number in April 2016, and through this number were referred to another number.

Through this number, they arranged and purchased 1.2 grams and 1.0 grams of meth for $200 from a man later identified as McNab.

Considering factors in the Gladue and pre-sentencing report, a 12-month sentence is in line with decisions from the Court of Appeals for a “single, small, hand-to-hand transaction,” like this, said the Federal Crown.

Defence counsel told the court that McNab — who has an addiction — was forced by his dealer to do the sale, although this was not enough to claim the legal defence of duress.

McNab is “shamed and embarrassed” by his actions, said counsel, and accepts responsibility. Once released he hopes to go to a recovery centre and then into the workforce.

Save for one conviction for a failure to comply, McNab has no criminal record.

McNab remains in custody though, due to new charges laid in November of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possessing property obtained by crime, possessing a controlled substance and two counts of breaching his release conditions.