Vernon man handed 2-year term for drug crimes

A Vernon man has been sentenced to two years in jail for possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

In the spring of 2017, Vernon RCMP received information that a drug trafficker was using a Dodge Ram pickup truck to deliver drugs to purchasers in Vernon and Coldstream.

On May 31 and June 1, officers observed the pickup truck stopping at locations around Vernon.

Pedestrians were seen entering and exiting the passenger seat of the truck, and officers believed they were buying drugs from the driver of the truck.

On June 2, Mounties arrested Dana John Kirton.

Upon searching the truck, they found a number of weapons inside, including two collapsible batons, a pair of weighted gloves and a knife with a 25-centimetre blade.

They also found three cellphones, $738.55 in cash, 20 packages of crack cocaine weighing more than five kilograms in total and nine packages of mixed fentanyl and heroin, weighing more than one kilogram in total.

Kirton, 27, was released shortly after his arrest and has been out on bail since.

He pleaded guilty to possessing a mixture of heroin and fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.

Crown sought a 30-month jail sentence, while defence argued for a sentence between six and 12 months followed by probation.

The maximum sentence is life in prison.

Kirton had no prior criminal record.

“It is important to recognize that there is no evidence whatsoever that any of the members of our community died from a drug overdose caused by the fentanyl sold by Mr. Kirton,” Judge Richard Hewson said in his decision. “At the same time, it is impossible to ignore the number of Vernon residents who have died from drug overdoses in recent months.”

The introduction of fentanyl has led to a rapid increase in the number of drug overdose deaths in the community, he said.

“What the numbers do not show is that the dead are our neighbours, and that every one of them had a circle of friends and family just like Mr. Kirton’s,” he said. “Their loss is our loss.”

Kirton argued he did not know the drugs he was selling contained fentanyl.

Hewson sentenced Kirton to two years less a day in prison.

Kirton is also prohibited from possessing firearms, crossbows, restricted weapons, ammunition and explosive substances for 10 years.