Daniel Lowenberg, one of four people charged in related drug cases from last November, pleaded guilty in Estevan Provincial Court on Monday to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.
Three others are facing related charges, and all now have preliminary inquiry dates set.
In a joint submission between the Crown and defence, federal Crown prosecutor Eric Neufeld said the Lowenberg case involved cocaine being sourced in Regina and being sold in Estevan. He explained this was a distribution-level case.
Another individual was seen with Lowenberg by police surveillance. Lowenberg was a passenger in pickup truck in Estevan with another person when both were arrested.
Lowenberg had 13.3 grams, or about half an ounce, of cocaine on his person, worth about $2,600. There were 26 packages for sale. The Crown alleged Lowenberg was to be part of a group of individuals trafficking cocaine.
Lowenberg was co-operative with police and gave a statement. The Crown noted he had a significant criminal record, and asked for a two-year sentence in a federal penitentiary. Neufeld asked that all the property involved that was seized be forfeited, and some of that may be used as evidence in other cases.
Neufeld said typical sentences for cases like this range from 18 months to four years.
Lowenberg’s defence attorney, Kathryn Gilliss, said he was 27 years old, and lives in Frobisher with his former spouse and two-month-old son. He has a Grade 8 education and has spent his career being fully employed in construction. He is self-employed doing renovations.
Lowenberg's sister told the Mercury he lived in Forget, not Frobisher, and he lives his unwed spouse.
She noted that Lowenberg has struggled with addictions for a decade since the death of his father, when he was 16. This would often be cyclical, with sober periods followed by “less than productive” periods.
Gilliss said that Lowenberg intends to use all the addiction services available at the penitentiary and get his GED.
Judge Lane Wiegers noted, “You do have a significant criminal record,” and he added those were related to trafficking drugs.
The judge added it was no surprise to anyone that cocaine and crystal meth cause great harm.
He gave Lowenberg credit for his confession and guilty plea. “You don’t need to do this sort of thing,” he said, noting he is able to support himself with his construction work.
The judge also warned that if Lowenberg doesn’t straighten up, sentences in the future would get a lot more serious.
With that, he sentenced Lowenberg to two years in a federal penitentiary, a firearms and weapons prohibition for life, and to give up DNA samples. He granted the property forfeiture and imposed a $200 victim surcharge. On that last note, Lowenberg will have 30 months to pay.
