(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops man who was found in possession of approximately $150,000 worth of drugs along with a handgun could face up to seven years in prison.

Chad Bissat, 30, has been found guilty on numerous charges including 15 counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, carrying a loaded firearm and careless use and storage of a firearm.

Bissat has no prior criminal record according to Crown counsel Anthony Varesi who read the evidence against Bissat today, March 1, at his sentencing hearing in Kamloops Supreme Court.

Police seized a variety of drugs from Bissat's backpack and home in 2016 including large quantities of fentanyl pills, cocaine, methamphetamine and cannabis.

Police officers were watching Bissat after they received a tip. Bissat was described as a “mover,’’ someone who would move large quantities of drugs and also reside at the house where the drugs were stashed.

“He would get calls and was told where to deliver drugs,” Bissat's lawyer Jeremy Jensen said, adding he would usually get paid in narcotics and sometimes cash.

The day Bissat was arrested he was on a bicycle making a “sizeable delivery,” according to Jensen. After police seized narcotics from Bissat’s backpack they searched his residence where more drugs were found.

Jensen says his client was heavily addicted to drugs when he was arrested. He was using cocaine, ecstasy, drinking heavily and occasionally using heroin. Since his client has been arrested he has attempted to turn his life around including going back to school and maintaining full-time employment.

Jensen says his client looks at his arrest as a “blessing in disguise.”

“He was not at the bottom but very close,” he says.

Bissat was born and raised in Kamloops and graduated from high school in the city.

Crown is asking for a seven year prison term, while his defence counsel would like a sentence of no more than four years for Bissat.

No date has been set yet for the continuation of the sentencing hearing.

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