(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

A Vernon woman that managed a dial-a-dope operation and was a "mid-level" drug dealer appeared at the Vernon courthouse today, Sept. 9, as her lawyer argued she should not go to jail.

Selina Mitchell, born 1984, sat with family members in the courtroom as her defence lawyer Justin Dosanjh said she was driven by her addictions and was now sober and had now done a "complete 180" with her life.

"I question what benefit is to be derived to society to take Ms. Mitchel out of a culturally appropriate treatment setting," the lawyer said. "Is it better for society for Ms. Mitchell to be in custody for 26 months and lose the foundation she's built or she can be taken to Round Lake (treatment centre)."

However, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Allan Betton pointed out her crimes were very serious.

"She's not at the low level of trafficking... she's a manager, she's encouraging people to go out and sell more... feeding what is a crisis and killing people on a regular basis," he said.

The court heard how Mitchell had been a mid-level manager in a dial-a-dope drug trafficking ring working in Vernon and Lake Country.

Federal Crown prosecutor Michelle Reinhart said Mitchell had been on the RCMP's radar for some time as she'd been under investigation and suspected of being involved in drugs coming from the Lower Mainland.

Police now believe she may be receiving large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, from the Lower Mainland.

Sometime in 2018, Vernon RCMP began tracking Mitchell and followed her as she received shipments of drugs and organized them to be sold by street-level dealers.

Police bought drugs from low-level dealers and a tracking device, assumed to have been affixed to her vehicle, showed she drove to the Lower Mainland.

After surveilling Mitchell for some time Vernon RCMP arrested her in 2018.

She was charged with five counts of possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Evidence connected her with a stash house at the Brookstone apartments in Lake Country where police found hundreds of packages of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. The drugs were valued at roughly $30,000. Police also found bear spray and a knife at the apartment.

The Crown prosecutor read several texts to the court from her to other drug dealers dealer working with her.

The Crown named Nolan Scott, Devon Shaw and Daniel Mason as being involved in the operation. Scott was convicted for his role.

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The text messages showed that Mitchell organized the street-level dealers' shifts and supplied them with drugs to sell. She assigned shifts and pressured dealers to work. She also arranged vehicles and drivers and kept score sheets to track sales.

The texts showed how dealers without a driver's license weren't allowed to drive and anyone willing to have a vehicle insured in their name would receive a $250 to $300 bonus. The dealers also had targets to hit in each shift.

The texts also revealed that the drug bosses wanted Mitchell to reward those who worked hard and sold well for her. One text said they wanted to take everyone out for dinner as a reward for doing well.

Justice Bennett said it sounded like any other manager dealing with their employees.

The dealer in the Lower Mainland was called Jerry, but it appears they were never arrested.

The Crown said six people a day in B.C. died from the illicit drug supply and asked for three-and-a-half years jail.

The defence said Mitchell was addicted to opioids at the time but in the four years since her arrest was now completely sober. She had since connected with her Indigenous culture and attended rehabilitation. He highlighted her troubled childhood and early exposure to drugs and alcohol at home.

Mitchell also has a scant criminal record, which is unusual in these cases, with one conviction for credit card fraud and theft.

The defence lawyer read out multiple reports from doctors and psychologists and other health workers who gave Mitchell glowing reviews on her steps to sobriety. Her lawyer argued she should receive a sentence of house arrest and sending her to prison wasn't the answer.

The Justice will decide Mitchell's fate at a later date.

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