Drug dealer faced up to 12 years in prison

Drug dealer faces up to 12 years in prison
'One-stop shop' drug op brings man's conviction
Drug dealer faces lengthy sentence; tells court it's time to change

- Crown is seeking 12 years.
- Christian Basarowich was convicted of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and other firearms offences.
- Crown said, he "showed a willingness to protect his product, there was no other reason to have these guns."
- His lawyer said he is a smart, young and independent contractor who could have a bright future as a legitimate businessman.
- Said he still has time to turn his troubled life around, he has strong support from his family and would like to return to university to complete a business management degree.
- When he had been convicted of his first drug offence in 2007, he had only completed one year of university.
- Basarowich said, "The life I led before my arrest wasn't much of a life at all. It was selfish and reckless."
- He said he had started partying when he was in his first year of university and his troubles just continued from there on.
- He also said, "After entering the drug world, I saw my life fall apart, now it's time for me to be a man, to grow up.. It's time to change."
- He had been in custody for 29 months already since his arrest.
- The defence was seeking a 5 year sentence.

Yes, I agree that this man is an experienced drug dealer and violated his conditional sentence by committing another serious drug offence, but I agree with the defence that 12 years is just too harsh for this man. Being in a federal prison for a lengthy period, will further immerse this man into pro-criminal attitudes, values and behaviours where he may to learn to be a "better criminal" . I think he can be rehabilitated and seems willing to change his life and attend university. I think a sentence between 5 and 7 years would be appropriate and he should also be required to take substance abuse programs in prison.  

Drug Dealer receives 9 year prison sentence

Drug Dealer receives 9 year prison sentence

Drug dealer gets 9 year sentence 

Drug dealer gets 9 years in jail 

Drug dealer sentenced to 9 years in prison 

- Christian Basarowich was sentenced to 9 years in prison on Thursday, Feb.18th

- He was convicted at a trial of Possession of Drugs for the Purpose of Trafficking and other firearms offences. 

- He was arrested in September 2007

- $100,000 worth of cocaine, marijuana, ecstacy, ketamine and meth were found at his residence. 

- He also possessed $5100 in cash and three handguns with ammunition. 

- At the time of his arrest, he had only served one month of a two year conditional sentence that he had received from a previous drug conviction in August 2007.

- Judge said, "a lenghier sentence would have a crushing effect on him and may impede his focus on rehabilitating his life." 

- I would argue, that 9 years is a lengthy sentence!! You are impeding his focus of rehabilitation by sentencing him for that long!

- Christian said he is "ready to turn his back on the drug world and grow up." 

I was predicting earlier that this man would be sentenced anywhere from 5-7 years in prison but I think 9 years is too harsh. This man wants to turn his life around and by sending him to prison, is not giving him that opportunity. He will be eligible for full parole after serving 3 years and I sure hope he gets in or at the worst, statutory release after serving 6 years.