CARLYLE — A southeast Saskatchewan woman was sentenced Nov. 12 in Carlyle Provincial Court after she pleaded guilty to a drug-related charge.
Krista Louise Dolphin, age 45, pleaded guilty to one count of drug trafficking and multiple incidents of violating her release conditions.
Other charges were stayed, including one count of drug trafficking, two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of property obtained by crime, and multiple counts of violating the terms of her release conditions. She had been facing a total of 17 charges.
Among the trafficking-related charges that were stayed were those stemming from a drug bust in Arcola in May.
Federal prosecutor Kathryn Gilliss told the court that Dolphin’s drug trafficking guilty plea stemmed from Dolphin’s arrest on April 10, 2024. Gilliss said police received a complaint that Dolphin was seen driving when prohibited. A short time later, Dolphin arrived at a police station with the intention of giving a report regarding another individual who was living with her.
According to Gilliss, Dolphin admitted to driving a person around southeast Saskatchewan to drop off and pick up cocaine. Gilliss added Dolphin explained the man was selling cocaine out of a residence in Arcola. Police searched the residence and Gilliss said they found 18 grams of cocaine, a scale, drug paraphernalia and more. Dolphin was charged and released on a series of conditions.
Gilliss then chronicled multiple arrests for Dolphin from April 2024 to May of this year, which resulted in the charges for violating release conditions. Dolphin has been in custody since May.
Gilliss noted that she and defence attorney Nathan Metivier have been in ongoing resolution discussions for quite some time, and they believe they have a reasonable sentence.
Dolphin received 12 months in custody for the trafficking plea. As for the release condition violations, she also received two concurrent 30-day sentences for drug possession, and three concurrent 15-day sentences for other violations.
Gilliss noted Dolphin has spent 192 days in custody, including 184 days from the May arrest to the date of sentencing, so Dolphin received 288 days of enhanced credit. Dolphin had 78 days remaining on her sentence, as of Nov. 12.
Gilliss noted Dolphin has a criminal record for minor and ultimately unrelated offences. It was a first offence as far as trafficking. Weights of the drugs were low and there wasn’t a great deal of evidence for cash or drugs, Gilliss said, but the trafficking went on for a longer period of time.
“A conditional sentence order would not likely be well-served in the community given Ms. Dolphin’s record as far as conditions compliance,” said Gilliss.
Metivier noted Dolphin was born in Fort St. John, B.C. and moved to Saskatchewan in 2007. He added a custody battle led to Dolphin’s use of drugs, particularly crack cocaine.
“While she has been in custody, she has completed numerous programs. She has essentially completed every remand program available,” said Metivier.
Dolphin also has family support and friends in the southeast, Metivier said, and has a better support system now than when she went into custody. He added Dolphin plans to continue with addictions counselling.
“She has never been more motivated to stay sober than she does now,” he said.
The trafficking charge appears to have been motivated by “desperation and out of her addiction”, Metivier said.
Judge Mitch Miller said he believes the proposal is reasonable under the circumstances. But in closing, he reminded Dolphin that drugs are “a scourge”. Her efforts to improve herself while in jail played a role in Miller accepting the joint submission, he said.
But Miller also asked if she has thought about the impact that her participation in the drug trade had on others.
“Going forward, I want you to think about that, because it does have a huge affect on our community,” said Miller.
