ESTEVAN — An Estevan woman received a 20-month conditional sentence order (CSO) in connection with a drug bust last summer.
Nadine Joanne Hala, 39, pleaded guilty to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine during her most recent appearance in Estevan Provincial Court on Aug. 18. Other charges were stayed, including another for possession for the purpose of trafficking, along with single counts of possession of property obtained by crime and violating a release order.
Prosecutor Alexander Deacon said the case was related to a drug bust on Aug. 9, 2024, in which four people were charged and $150,000 in drugs were seized. Cellphones were analyzed from that bust, and Deacon said Hala was identified as a member of a group tasked with being drug runners. Their job was to deliver cocaine to customers.
Deacon noted Bradley Williams and Hala’s husband Dallas were arrested on Aug. 22, 2024. Shortly after, Nadine Hala was observed leaving her residence and going to a local restaurant, where she was arrested in the women’s restroom.
A search of the washroom turned up 35 dime bags of drugs, he said.
“They were located in two larger black Ziploc bags, with packaging notes identical to what had been found in the previous arrests and seizures,” Deacon said.
Police then searched the Halas’ residence, where Deacon said officers found just over $1,000 in the master bedroom, along with more Ziploc bags, dime bags, score sheets and scales.
Deacon pointed out Nadine Hala does not have a previous criminal record.
“In this situation, we feel the CSO can be sufficiently punitive, and also takes some steps towards rehabilitation and reintegration,” said Deacon.
She will have to abide by numerous conditions as part of the order.
Hala’s lawyer, Andrew Erhardt, told the court that Hala is remorseful for her actions. He added the joint submission is a true “quid pro quo” agreement that considered a “significant triable issue” with a potential duress defence for Hala.
Erhardt claimed the offences occurred because the lives of Hala and her children were being threatened. But she decided to plead guilty and accept responsibility in part because she knew her actions were wrong.
“I advised her that there’s no guarantee a duress defence would be accepted by the court at trial, and a penitentiary sentence would likely be the result of a conviction,” said Erhardt.
After Hala declined to speak when given the chance, Judge Mitch Miller reminded her of the impact her crime has on the community.
“Every time these come up, I wonder how that person’s actions contributed to creating more addicts in the community, created more problems, more crime in the community, and it’s troubling, because we see the impact that drugs have on every community in Saskatchewan," said Miller.
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has ruled in many cases that trafficking cocaine results in jail sentences, he said.
“And so I think you’re fortunate to have a CSO, and I’ve heard the reasons to want to go along with the CSO, and I’m not going to deviate from that.”
Dallas William Hala’s most recent court appearance on the charge was Aug. 11. Williams is scheduled to be back in court on Sept. 22.
