Melfort Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Drug bust

Nipawin drug trafficker had plans to start ‘proper’ business, according to testimony

May 7, 2020 | 2:00 PM

A Nipawin man, who was found hiding 30 bags of methamphetamine inside his apartment, has received a four-and-a half year prison sentence.

Randy Norman Hamilton, 42, was originally arrested on June 3, 2019, as a result of an assault complaint. The drugs (846 grams) were found by police when they searched his apartment the following day. The drugs were contained in a canister found inside a cupboard.

Hamilton was subsequently charged with possession of proceeds of crime ($5,260 cash and cellphones), and possession of a controlled substance. He pleaded guilty to those charges.

The sentencing decision from Judge L.W. Stang was released on April 23, nearly weeks after the matters were last addressed at Melfort Provincial Court.

According to the police evidence in the case, Hamilton purchased on a kilogram of methamphetamine on May 13, 2013, and planned to sell the drugs around Nipawin, at a cost of $600 per ounce.

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During the later part of May, and the first few days of June, Hamilton was able to complete several “one ounce” sales.

Hamilton, who represented himself in court, confirmed he was not selling the drugs as a means to feed an addiction, but rather his motive was profit. He testified he planned to use the money to start a “proper business.”

At the time of his arrest last year, Hamilton was on statutory release for a two-year jail sentence imposed by a court in Winnipeg on Sept. 25, 2017. Because of his arrest, Hamilton was immediately returned to the Saskatchewan Penitentiary to continue serving his sentence.

Hamilton received 12 months credit for time spent in pre-sentence custody and has 44 months left remaining to be served. Hamilton has also been ordered to submit a DNA sample to the national registry.

The original assault charge was stayed by the Crown.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell