House arrest for drug dealer
A Jasper man will spend nine months on house arrest and another nine months on probation after pleading guilty to possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
Thomas Donald Featherstone, 33, was charged with four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking last April, along with his partner Amanda Rae Levere.
Following Featherstone's guilty plea, Oct. 22, his remaining charges were withdrawn, as were the charges against Levere.
The couple was charged in April after the Jasper RCMP executed a search warrant turning up 850ml of GHB, 44 grams of psilocybin, 24 grams of MDMA and 1.5 pounds of marijuana, as well as cellphones, scales and other evidence of drug trafficking.
During his sentencing in Jasper Provincial Court, Oct. 22, a joint submission was presented to the judge by Featherstone's lawyer and the Crown, suggesting he serve his sentence in the community. The submission pointed to his early admission of guilt and cooperation in the case as the reason for keeping him out of jail.
When given the opportunity to speak, Featherstone said the reason he's been so cooperative is because he recognizes that his arrest and charges were the best thing that ever happened to him. He said since then, he and Levere have been following a much healthier path.
“I'm really excited to have an opportunity to have a second chance,” he said.
Judge J.D. Higgerty agreed with the joint submission and handed down an 18-month sentence, nine months of house arrest, as well as nine months probation, with extensive conditions, including a curfew.
“You'll be on a short leash for the next 18 months,” said Higgerty. “For all intents and purposes, your residence is going to be your jail cell.”
As well as his sentence, Featherstone is required to complete 100 hours of community service.
Featherstone now lives in Edmonton and will serve his sentence there.
Untidy campsite results in fines
An Edmonton woman received a $500 fine for leaving bear attractants in a campground cook shelter, despite two warnings from Parks Canada staff.
On Sept. 6, Janice Dela Cruz camped at Wabasso Campground, where she used a cook shelter to prepare a meal. She then proceeded to leave her coolers, garbage and open food in the shelter, along with an electric wok.
She received two warnings, as well as education about bears, but left the food and garbage in the shelter and was subsequently charged under the Canada National Parks Act.
In court Oct. 22, Judge J.D. Higgerty reiterated the importance of properly storing bear attractants in the park, explaining to Dela Cruz that bears can become habituated if they eat human food, creating a public safety issue and often resulting in the death of the bear.
Dela Cruz pleaded guilty and received a $500 fine.
Man fined for off highway camping
A Fort Saskatchewan man received $800 in fines for driving his vehicle off the highway without a permit and camping on the side of the road in Jasper National Park.
On Sept. 9, Matthew Kraska drove 500 metres off the highway and set up camp, including an illegal fire that left a fire scar on the ground.
He received a $300 fine for camping outside of a designated campground and a $500 fine for driving off the highway without a permit.
“I want to underscore in your mind that the park is highly regulated and very much for good reason,” said Judge J.D. Higgerty, explaining that visitors come to Jasper National Park to see pristine wilderness and it requires strict rules to keep it that way.
Nicole Veerman
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