Jonathan Keenatch was sentenced on Monday at Court of King's Bench. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Court proceedings

Prince Albert drug bust results in two year sentence

Dec 22, 2025 | 5:00 PM

At the conclusion of a sentencing hearing, a man who has spent over a year-and-a-half on remand for drugs possession, told the judge he felt really bad about being locked up.

“I feel stupid,” he said.

Jonathon Keenatch, 38, appeared Monday afternoon at Court of King’s Bench in Prince Albert and received 800 days. Guilty pleas were entered to unlawful possession of meth and possession of a restricted firearm.

With remand credit, he was released the same day.

The case dates back to July, 2024, when members of Prince Albert Police Service Crime Reduction Team and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Team received information Keenatch and Leanna Sander were in possession of meth.

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Surveillance was conducted and Sander was observed on multiple occasions making short duration meets.

On July 4, 2024 Keenatch was arrested near 10th Ave and 15th St. Inside his pants pocket he had 15.6 grams of meth and $65. He was also carrying a knife and two cell phones..

Police then executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1500 block of McIntosh Drive – this was where the two suspects lived.

In a bedroom nightstand, police located a sawed off .22 caliber gun. In the same room were two bags of meth, scales and an unknown powder..

Sander showed up soon after and was promptly arrested. She was carrying a black bag with a large amount of meth and proceeds of crime.

In total, police seized 264.5 grams of methamphetamine, the gun, $1930 cash, and further evidence of trafficking.(Prince Albert Police Service)

Crown Prosecutor Stephen Jordan described Keenatch’s criminal record as “largely unremarkable.”

Defence lawyer Mike Nolan noted a family history related to residential schools. Nolan also explained that during COVID, Keenatch’s employment dried up and his aspirations to find work were further complicated after he was attacked by someone with a machete and sustained a significant injury.

Last May, Sander entered guilty pleas to trafficking and possession of proceeds of crime. Like Keenatch, she also received 800 days but after remand credit had a little less than a year to serve.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell