Heroin in car, man jailed 8 years

Crown cites ‘copious’ amounts of drugs — ‘Community needs to denounce this behaviour,’ judge says

KITCHENER — A Kitchener man was sentenced to eight and a half years after police found heroin valued at about $25,000 in the car he was driving.

Justice John Lynch on Friday sentenced Paul Williams, 34, to eight years on a heroin charge, which also included drugs such as crystal methamphetamine and cocaine.

He also received a six-month sentence for four counts of driving while disqualified.

Williams has been in custody since his arrest in May last year and was credited for 21 months of time spent in jail.

Six years and nine months of prison time remain.

“I truly hope this is the last time you are here,” Lynch said to Williams just before he left the prisoner’s box in the courtroom.

“It will be, your honour,” said Williams.

“You appear to have a positive upbringing yet chose to get involved in an (illegal) commercial enterprise,” Lynch said in his judgment. “The community needs to denounce this behaviour.”

During a five-day trial in March, court heard that police found 7.7 ounces of heroin, in the car he was driving. Police also found crystal meth and cocaine.

Crown prosecutor Kathleen Nolan said the “copious” amounts of drugs in the car were a large seizure for police.

Williams was found guilty of three counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, four counts of driving while disqualified and two counts of breaching probation.

Police were looking for Williams in May 2015 after he allegedly tried to rob a man in Kitchener.

Williams allegedly had brass knuckles with an attached blade.

The victim knew Williams and showed police a Facebook photo of him.

Later, a woman told police she loaned her Audi to Williams.

On the morning of May 26, 2015, police tracked the car to 95 Vicmount Dr. in Kitchener.

They saw Williams put a black bag in the Audi and drive off.

Police followed him in an unmarked car to 366 Park St. When they approached, Williams tossed the car keys through the sunroof of the locked Audi. An officer climbed through the sunroof to search the car. Police failed to find the weapon used in the attempted robbery, but did find a folding knife and the drugs.

Williams had almost $4,000 in cash on him. He was arrested and handcuffed.

Nolan was seeking an eight- to 10-year sentence while Williams’ defence lawyer, Nic Rozier was suggesting a sentence between six to eight years.

Lynch said the offences were based on greed not addiction.

Court heard that Williams has a lengthy criminal record, but has never served federal time in prison.

Rozier said the sentence was within the range, but says the sentence is substantial considering he has two children.

“It’s a significant blow for him,” she said after the sentence.