Fentanyl trafficker ordered released on bail pending appeal

A fentanyl trafficker who was arrested with a large quantity of drugs in his possession has been ordered released on bail pending appeal.

A fentanyl trafficker who was arrested with a large quantity of drugs in his possession and was sentenced to six years in jail has been ordered released on bail pending his appeal.

In May last year, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin convicted Scott William Cashman, 38, of seven counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

He was arrested after police executed a search warrant at a residence he shared with Christopher Leigh Harmes in Mission.

The judge found him guilty of possessing 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.6 kg of methamphetamine, 284 grams of cocaine, 509 g of ketamine, 844 codeine pills, 558 hydromorphone pills and 40 morphine pills.

Hames was also convicted in connection with the drug seizure, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Cashman, who had been on bail for about two years until the date of his sentencing, applied to be released from prison pending his appeal. At the bail hearing, the Crown conceded that his appeal was not frivolous and he was not a flight risk but argued that his release would pose a safety risk in the community.

Cashman countered that he had not reoffended in the four-month period following his initial arrest and release, had complied with the terms of his bail for two years and was bound by minimal conditions without a surety or cash deposit. He also said he was proposing far more restrictive bail conditions for his release and would be entirely removed from the location of his offence.

The Crown said that the quantity of drugs involved in the case suggested Cashman was highly involved in the drug trade and his possession of 3.5 kg of fentanyl, a dangerous and deadly substance, was very problematic considering the province’s opioid crisis.

In reaching his decision, Justice Marchand noted that Cashman had been convicted of a serious offence and the type and quantity of drugs had a street value of more than $800,000 and would have “significantly exacerbated” the opioid crisis and probably cost lives.

Marchand added that his criminal record for possessing a firearm in an unauthorized place and his appearance at a police detachment in body armour at the time of his sentencing increased public safety concerns.

“Nevertheless, I am satisfied that his detention pending the outcome of his appeal is not necessary to ensure public safety.”

The firearms’ offence was in 2014, Cashman received a suspended sentence and there was no evidence he had possessed or used firearms since then and there was no evidence he could not be controlled under supervision in the community or that he would disobey court orders, said the judge.

Cashman was released on ‘stringent’ conditions including a surety, a cash deposit of $20,000 and house arrest with electronic monitoring.

kfraser@postmedia.com

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