Papequash sentenced to one-year for trafficking prescription drugs

A Key First Nation band councillor is headed for jail for trafficking prescription drugs.
Clarence Papequash, 64, who pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking codeine and one count of illegal possession of ammunition last month, was sentenced to one year of incarceration this morning (April 24) at Yorkton Provincial Court.
The Court heard that on February 14, RCMP executed a search warrant at Papequash’s residence on the Key First Nation. The investigation turned up 57 Tylenol 3 pills, 96 shells and cartridges of various sizes and calibers, various other controlled and uncontrolled substances and other paraphernalia and evidence of trafficking including a cell phone with text messages offering prescription drugs for sale.
Federal prosecutor Shane Wagner noted Papequash had a criminal record dating back many years including a recent trafficking conviction from 2014.
That famous case, involved a 2011 incident in which Papequash pleaded guilty to facilitating a transaction of half a pill of prescription narcotics.
In that ruling, Madam Justice J.L. Pritchard of the Court of Queen’s Bench commented negatively on the fact that because Papequash was band chief at the time and also an addictions counselor,  had thus betrayed his people.
At the time, Papequash admitted to media he was battling his own addiction issues.
Wagner cited mitigating circumstances including the early guilty plea and noted there were Gladue/Ipeelee considerations to be taken into account, referring to the seminal Supreme Court cases that require judges to take unique systemic or background factors pertinent to aboriginal offenders into account for sentencing purposes.
Defence attorney Thomas Campbell referenced Pritchard’s decision in painting a very different portrait of his client.
Campbell described a man addicted to pain killers, who had never sold drugs for profit, but only to feed his own addiction.
He said on balance Papequash has done much more good for the Key First Nation than bad noting his re-election as councillor in 2016, even after his earlier conviction.
Campbell listed numerous good works Papequash has done including overseeing public infrastructure projects such as a new water treatment plant and a bridge currently under construction.
He said Papequash hunts and shares meat with other band members, was instrumental in forming an elder’s group and runs an annual summer camp teaching youth traditional skills.
Judge Ross Green said considering all the circumstances, he was satisfied the recommended sentence was within the range for the particular offence “albeit at the lower end.”
Papequash is also subject to a lifetime firearms ban and will spend two years on probation upon his release, which includes a condition to participate in assessment and treatment for addictions.