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Alleged dealer who admitted to missing court denied bail

Jan 11, 2017 | 5:00 AM

A man accused of dealing meth was denied bail yesterday in Prince Albert Provincial Court after pleading guilty to missing court on three previous occasions.

Daniel Dakota Kennedy, 32, of Shipman, Sask. was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute after police allegedly observed Kennedy and an associate acting suspiciously on Aug. 13. Prosecutor Brent Slobodian said officers activated their emergency lights but Kennedy, riding a bicycle, led police on a brief chase around downtown before an officer pursuing on foot caught up.

Kennedy was initially arrested for breaching his court-ordered curfew, Slobodian said, but when police searched him they found 5.7 g of crystal methamphetamine distributed among several baggies, 2.5 g of processed marijuana resin sometimes referred to as “shatter,” two digital scales, a meth pipe and packaging materials.

Although seeking release on bail, Kennedy was also sentenced on a number of less-serious matters yesterday. Based on a joint submission by the Crown and defence he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months probation on two counts of possession of stolen property, three counts of failing to attend court, two counts of failing to report as ordered and one breach of recognizance when he cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet.

“I realize what I did was wrong,” Kennedy said prior to his sentencing. “I want to get back on track.”

Admitting to missing his previous court dates may have worked against Kennedy. Judge Felicia Daunt issued the probationary sentence as recommended, but Slobodian was then able to use the admitted absences from court dates as evidence against Kennedy’s release.

“The Crown doesn’t have any confidence that he’ll comply with the conditions of his release,” Slobodian told the court.

Defence counsel Rebecca Crookshanks said her client has no criminal record and maintains the drugs were for personal use. Crookshanks questioned the legitimacy of the initial arrest and noted her client intends to take the drug charge to trial.

Daunt sided with the Crown and denied Kennedy’s bail.

“He’s failed to appear numerous times,” Daunt said. “I’m not satisfied he will attend court if I release him.”

Kennedy was remanded into custody, and will be back in court via video link Jan. 13.

 

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been closed to commenting because the matter is still before the court.