Cash seized by RCMP during a vehicle stop on Dec. 1, 2016.
Image Credit: RCMP HANDOUT
February 26, 2020 - 5:13 PM
A man police have alleged is associated with the Red Scorpions gang is facing up to nearly two years in jail on charges related to drugs, cash and weapons.
At a sentencing hearing today, Feb. 26, the Crown asked for 22 months of jail time, followed by three years of probation for Brandon Chappell, 32, while his own lawyer suggested a 90-day sentence with three years of probation.
Chappell was backed by his family and common-law partner during the proceeding.
Last August, Chappell pleaded guilty to charges of possession of property obtained by crime, obtaining a firearm without license or registration and possession of narcotics with intent to traffic.
He and an associate were pulled over by police in December, 2016 and found to be in possession of more than $5,000. RCMP then obtained a search warrant for his home, where they found three stashes of cash, a 12-gauge non-restricted firearm, and 220 grams of MDMA. In total, they seized $163,950 in cash and approximately $8,000 worth of MDMA from the home.
Chappell’s defence lawyer, Jeremy Jensen, said his client's “poor decisions” came about in 2015 after he lost his job and lost custody of his son due to financial stress and issues with the child’s mother. The boy, now six, spends half of his time with his maternal grandmother and half with Chappell.
“I understand my actions have consequences but I hope you give me a chance to be a father to my son,” Chappell said in a statement to the court. “I beg you to give me another chance.”
A statement from his employer said Chappell has been open about his past and is now considered to be an asset to the company. Chappell has also sought out counselling services paid for out of pocket and he said he does not have a substance abuse problem. He does not have a previous criminal record.
“Mr. Chappell has successfully and genuinely removed himself from his past,” Jensen said. “The custodial sentence at this time would undermine his rehabilitation efforts.”
A date for a fixed date determination has been set for Friday, Mar. 13.
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