But, according to Paul Eugene Bernard, he wasn’t selling the drugs but merely helping those looking to find them.
In Summerside provincial court Thursday, the 49-year-old city man pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and a charge of failing to attend court.
Bernard is currently behind bars, serving a seven-month sentence in a New Brunswick jail on a drug trafficking charge in that province.
On Aug. 7, 2012, just before 11 p.m., Prince District JFO Drug Unit executed a search warrant on Bernard’s home, a camper trailer on Summerside’s Heckbert Street.
Inside, police found 93.81 grams of marijuana in a Wendy’s bag, digital scales, score sheets, a cellphone with drug-related text messages and almost $1,700 in cash.
Bernard, in his statement to police, admitted the drugs were his but said that he wasn’t selling.
He was released on a promise to appear in Summerside provincial court on Oct. 4 but failed to appear.
Bernard was arrested a couple of days later on a warrant and released but arrested almost immediately after on a warrant from New Brunswick. He has been in jail in that province since.
Bernard has a lengthy previous record but no prior drug convictions.
Crown attorney Jonathan Greenan presented a joint sentence recommendation of three to four months in custody to be served consecutively to Bernard’s sentence in New Brunswick.
Greenan also requested that the money seized be forfeited and that Bernard be banned for life from possessing or owning firearms, explosives and ammunition.
Judge Jeff Lantz agreed with the Crown’s requests.
Lantz did question Bernard’s claim that he wasn’t selling marijuana.
“It looks like he was, to have that much cash,” added the judge.
Bernard will have to serve an additional three months and one day in jail on top of the sentence he is currently serving. He is also banned for life from owning or possessing weapons.
nmacphee@journalpioneer.com
