Almost four years to the day after he was shot at by Sudbury police, a man was sent to jail Wednesday for trafficking in drugs.
 |
Louis Poitras, 32, pleaded guilty to possessing 39 high-powered oxycodone pills. Oxycodone is a prescription painkiller that is often sold on the street.
Poitras has a history of drug-related offences. He also pleaded guilty to possessing less than one-tenth of one gram of cocaine and one Ecstasy pill.
Justice William Fitzgerald agreed to a joint submission presented by federal Crown prosecutor and defence counsel that Poitras be sentenced to six months in jail.
Charges against Karen Lunn, PoitrasÂ? wife, and another woman, Victoria McLean, were dropped.
Defence lawyer Donald Plaunt said despite his clientÂ?s history, Poitras realizes dealing drugs isnÂ?t a lifestyle he can continue. He has been pursuing work as a heavy equipment operator and will have a job once his sentence expires.
Â?HeÂ?s determined to look toward more traditional employment...and has made a sincere effort to support his wife and family,Â? said Plaunt.
In February 2000, Poitras and another Sudbury man, Allen Campbell, were fired at by police during a high-risk drug takedown in Coniston. Campbell was hit by one police bullet. Police found Campbell and Poitras to be in possession of a large amount of cocaine.
Campbell was eventually sentenced to 18 months in jail in relation to that incident, while Poitras received a one-year sentence.
Three months ago, Campbell was given a 30-month penitentiary term after pleading guilty to trafficking marijuana, cocaine and profiting from the proceeds of crime.
Campbell and Poitras filed a civil lawsuit against Greater Sudbury Police Service, several officers and other defendants in relation to the Coniston shootout.
However, that lawsuit never proceeded to the courts after Campbell and Poitras pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and other charges.
Â?Keith Lacey
