{
 "id": "013",
 "offence": "Possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking (Canada, British Columbia)",
 "jurisdiction": "British Columbia",
 "years": "2017 / 2016",
 "story": [
  "Both cases were heard in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. Both were tried for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. In both cases the Crown asked for four years in custody.",
  "Shelden Durno Harris, 33, had no record. He was convicted on five counts: cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, TFMPP and hashish. Police found 1,110.01 g of cocaine, 210 g of heroin, 306.79 g of methamphetamine and 464.12 g of TFMPP on him. The court imposed 36 months in custody.",
  "Christie Lee Chamberlain, 34, had no relevant record. She pleaded guilty to three counts: cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin. The drugs were valued at $100,000–116,000. The court imposed 2 years in custody.",
  "The court told Harris it hoped the joy of fatherhood and his family would help him lead a law-abiding life."
 ],
 "male": {
  "case": "R. v. Harris",
  "citation": "2017 BCSC 1552",
  "court": "Supreme Court of British Columbia",
  "date": "2017-07-21",
  "charge": "Five counts: possession of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, TFMPP and hashish for the purpose of trafficking",
  "outcome": "Found guilty on all five counts on 23 June 2017",
  "sentence": "36 months in custody",
  "facts": "Harris is 33, no record. Police found 1,110.01 g of cocaine, 210 g of heroin, 306.79 g of methamphetamine and 464.12 g of TFMPP. The Crown asked for four years. The court imposed 36 months in custody. (paras. 1, 2, 7, 22, 29, 37, 84, 98)",
  "source": "https://www.bccourts.ca/jdb-txt/sc/17/15/2017BCSC1552.htm"
 },
 "female": {
  "case": "R. v. Chamberlain",
  "citation": "2016 BCSC 379",
  "court": "Supreme Court of British Columbia",
  "date": "2016-02-19",
  "charge": "Three counts: possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin for the purpose of trafficking",
  "outcome": "Pleaded guilty",
  "sentence": "2 years in custody",
  "facts": "Chamberlain is 34, no relevant record. The drugs were valued at $100,000–116,000. The Crown asked for four years. The court imposed two years in custody. (paras. 3, 14, 15, 24, 33, 60)",
  "source": "https://www.bccourts.ca/jdb-txt/sc/16/03/2016BCSC0379.htm"
 },
 "law": [
  "Criminal Code s. 718.2(b)",
  "Charter s. 15",
  "Charter s. 28"
 ],
 "after": "",
 "added": "2026-10-17",
 "evidence": {
  "male": {
   "offender_name": {
    "value": "Shelden Durno Harris",
    "quote": "Mr. Harris is before the court for sentencing.",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "offence": {
    "value": "Five counts of possession of controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, TFMPP, cannabis resin)",
    "quote": "He was charged by indictment with five counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, contrary to s. 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "criminal_code_sections": {
    "value": "Criminal Code ss. 109, 487.051(3) and 737 (ancillary orders); offences under CDSA s. 5(2)",
    "quote": "The convictions result in a mandatory order prohibiting possession of weapons under s. 109 of the Criminal Code.",
    "para": "85"
   },
   "plea": {
    "value": "Convicted on all five counts (no guilty plea indicated)",
    "quote": "Mr. Harris was convicted on all five counts on June 23, 2017.",
    "para": "2"
   },
   "sentence": {
    "value": "Global sentence of 36 months' imprisonment (concurrent counts), plus $1,000 victim surcharge and forfeiture of the Audi A8, and weapons prohibition and DNA order",
    "quote": "That means your total sentence will be 36 months in prison.",
    "para": "84"
   },
   "sentence_months": {
    "value": "36",
    "quote": "That means your total sentence will be 36 months in prison.",
    "para": "84"
   },
   "crown_position": {
    "value": "Four years' jail",
    "quote": "The Crown seeks a sentence of four years in jail.",
    "para": "7"
   },
   "criminal_record": {
    "value": "No criminal record",
    "quote": "Mr. Harris does not have a criminal record.",
    "para": "37"
   },
   "offender_age": {
    "value": "33 years old at sentencing (about 30 at time of offences)",
    "quote": "Mr. Harris is 33 years old.",
    "para": "29"
   },
   "key_facts": {
    "value": "Mid-level drug trafficking operation run from a home in Kelowna; large quantities of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, TFMPP and hashish found; motive was profit",
    "quote": "The police found 1,110.01 grams of cocaine, 210 grams of heroin, 306.79 grams of methamphetamine, and 464.12 grams of the drug referred to as TFMPP.",
    "para": "22"
   },
   "aggravating": {
    "value": "Amount, variety and value of drugs (about $200,000); organized and sophisticated operation; drugs stored in a residential neighbourhood; profit motive",
    "quote": "First is the amount, variety, and value of the drugs.",
    "para": "45"
   },
   "mitigating": {
    "value": "Young at time of offences; no criminal record; took steps to leave Kelowna and former associates; positive, stable present circumstances with family support and employment",
    "quote": "The mitigating factors then are that Mr. Harris was only 30 years old at the time of his crimes",
    "para": "50"
   },
   "gender_mentioned_by_court": {
    "value": "Court refers to the pleasures of fatherhood and family as support for law-abiding lifestyle",
    "quote": "I hope that the pleasures of fatherhood and family will help you to maintain a law‑abiding lifestyle",
    "para": "98"
   }
  },
  "female": {
   "offender_name": {
    "value": "Kristi Leigh Chamberlain",
    "quote": "Kristi Leigh Chamberlain is before this Court today to be sentenced.",
    "para": "1"
   },
   "offence": {
    "value": "Possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin",
    "quote": "She has pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking three substances: cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin.",
    "para": "3"
   },
   "plea": {
    "value": "Guilty",
    "quote": "Ms. Chamberlain has entered guilty pleas to three counts on Indictment 39572-1.",
    "para": "3"
   },
   "sentence": {
    "value": "Two years' incarceration, plus a 10-year s. 109 weapons prohibition, DNA order, and $600 victim fine surcharge payable forthwith (one day default incarceration)",
    "quote": "a fit and proper sentence in this case is one of two years' incarceration and that is the sentence I impose.",
    "para": "60"
   },
   "sentence_months": {
    "value": "24",
    "quote": "a fit and proper sentence in this case is one of two years' incarceration and that is the sentence I impose.",
    "para": "60"
   },
   "crown_position": {
    "value": "Four-year sentence of imprisonment, plus s. 109 order, DNA order and forfeiture order",
    "quote": "The Crown seeks a four-year sentence of imprisonment.",
    "para": "24"
   },
   "criminal_record": {
    "value": "No criminal record of any consequence",
    "quote": "The offender has no criminal record of any consequence.",
    "para": "33"
   },
   "offender_age": {
    "value": "34",
    "quote": "She is 34 years old.",
    "para": "15"
   },
   "key_facts": {
    "value": "Ongoing drug distribution enterprise run by the offender; methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine seized from car and Prince George apartment; $36,145 in cash; drugs valued between $100,000 and $116,000",
    "quote": "The total value of the drugs was estimated to be somewhere between $100,000 and $116,000.",
    "para": "14"
   },
   "aggravating": {
    "value": "Serious Schedule 1 drugs; ongoing, profit-driven, carefully planned enterprise; offender ran the operation; callous approach; no sign of cessation",
    "quote": "It is also relevant that this was, for all intents and purposes, Ms. Chamberlain's business.",
    "para": "39"
   },
   "mitigating": {
    "value": "Guilty plea; no criminal record; genuine rehabilitation and sustained abstinence; counselling; community contributions; drug debt not of her own making; genuine remorse",
    "quote": "There has been a guilty plea.",
    "para": "33"
   }
  }
 }
}