ESTEVAN — One of four people charged in connection with a large drug bust in Estevan last year has pleaded guilty to one charge, along with other more recent offences.
Devon William Martell pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking cocaine in connection with an Aug. 9, 2024, drug bust in Estevan. Four other charges — possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine, possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 — were stayed.
As part of a joint submission, Martell received a conditional sentence order (CSO) of two years less a day for the trafficking charge, and a concurrent sentence for later charges of drug possession and failing to appear in court. He also received a one-day, time-served sentence with six months’ probation for assault and failing to report to a probation order. Martell is subject to a number of conditions.
Alexander Deacon with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada said the Estevan Police Service (EPS) began receiving confidential source information in January 2024 that several individuals, including Martell, were trafficking cocaine in the city.
"On June 27, 2024, the Estevan police learned of a shipment of cocaine that had been shipped through Canada Post … and that had been intercepted by staff at the Canada Post office, and it contained four Ziploc bags, each with 100 individually wrapped dime bags of cocaine, totalling some 360 grams of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of $47,000," said Deacon.
Further investigation led police to identify five other packages linked to trafficking.
The EPS obtained judicial authorizations related to Martell's home and arrested him on Aug. 9, 2024.
"In his backpack, the police discovered packaging notes, identical to the packaging that was seized June 27 at the post office," Deacon said.
A self-storage location connected to the case was also searched that day. In a storage trailer, police found 1,026 grams of cocaine packaged in individual dime bags.
"When Mr. Martell was arrested, he provided a sworn statement in which he admitted to receiving and distributing packages, participating in the sale of cocaine," Deacon said. "He indicated that he fell into drug trafficking after losing a good job that he had held previously."
Deacon said Martell’s cellphone contained numerous conversations consistent with drug trafficking.
Martell was granted bail days after his arrest but had several release violations in June and July. A charge of violating release order terms in June was stayed.
On July 6, he was charged with failing to attend court and possession of under 30 grams of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty to both. He was released on July 21 but later that day was arrested and charged with assault and failing to report to a probation order. He also pleaded guilty to both charges.
Deacon said that on the July drug possession charge, one of the officers who arrested Martell the previous year saw him riding a bicycle with a backpack. Martell was under conditions allowing searches of his belongings. The officer stopped him and found a roll of methamphetamine hidden in a flashlight.
Martell has a prior criminal record, Deacon said, but pleaded guilty to the 2024 trafficking charge and co-operated with police — factors in what he called a “reasonably restrained” Crown sentencing position.
"In this case, I think a CSO can be sufficiently punitive to meet sentencing principles of denunciation and deterrent. And it does have a key that if Mr. Martell does breach, then obviously there's a real risk he could spend a significant amount of time in custody," said Deacon. "But this also has some steps to assisting one's rehabilitation and reintegration to the community."
Crown prosecutor Travis Avery noted the assault was Martell’s first “violent offence.” He said jail is rare for a first assault, but justified because it happened within hours of Martell’s release from custody on the drug possession charge.
Rather than report to probation for electronic monitoring, Avery said, Martell went to a residence and committed the assault.
"The message I'd like to send to Mr. Martell here is I'm happy to see he's got some significant conditions on that federal CSO, and if he follows the programming and gets back on the right track, I think he has the ability to be a productive member of society again. But if he goes the other direction, I think it's important that he understands that it is very likely he will be looking at jail in the future, certainly if further violence should occur, from the Crown's perspective," said Avery.
Martell spent 15 days in custody for the initial breaches in July, and 22 more for the second July violations.
Martell was scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Aug. 25 and 26 to determine if there is enough evidence to go to trial. As of Aug. 12, that inquiry is still scheduled for co-accused Jessica Louise Rutter-McKeen, who is charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine, and possession of proceeds obtained by crime over $5,000.
Another co-accused, Brennan McKeen, pleaded guilty in July to possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine. Other charges were stayed. He is slated to be sentenced Sept. 8.
Charges against a fourth person were stayed earlier this year.
According to the EPS, the drugs seized had a street value of $150,000. Cash and numerous other items were also seized.
