A Vancouver man who facilitated the sale of a small amount of fentanyl to an undercover police officer has been handed a two-year conditional sentence in Vancouver Provincial Court.
Robert Edward Young pleaded guilty to trafficking a controlled substance related to a Jan. 11, 2021 incident on Vancouver’s Granville Street.
Judge Jennifer Oulton heard an undercover police officer approached Young seeking to buy drugs.
Young did not sell the officer drugs. But according to Crown prosecutor Chelsea Gardner, he did facilitate the sale of 0.07 grams of fentanyl between the officer and another man who was charged but has since died.
Gardner said the offence is Young’s first, that he did it while intoxicated and that he is remorseful.
“He did not get any money for doing that,” Oulton said.
Defence lawyer Kristy Neurauter said Young “has seen the dangers of fentanyl in his community.”
The court heard Young had a serious car accident 20 years ago that left him with a traumatic brain injury. That has led to addiction and other mental health issues.
Oulton said Young has demonstrated “continuous and continued efforts” to deal with his substance use issues and is not a danger to the community.
Oulton imposed numerous conditions, including the need to report to a conditional sentence supervisor, a curfew, weapons prohibitions, and 50 community service work hours, which may be reduced if he attends counselling.
