A Williams Lake man will serve three and half years in jail for a number of drug and firearm related charges.
Dominic Gelowitz was sentenced in Williams Lake Supreme Court on May 6 after he pleaded guilty on Jan. 30 to three charges connected to a seizure in a Windmill Crescent home in November 2016.
Read more: Weapons, drugs seized following search of home
Anthony G. Varesi, counsel for the Public Prosecution Service Of Canada, said Gelowitz was sentenced to 30 months jail for possession for the purpose of trafficking cocaine (1.44 kilograms), 42 months jail concurrent for possessing a loaded restricted 9 mm semi-automatic firearm and 44 months, 5 days jail concurrent for possessing a loaded prohibited 9 mm semi-automatic firearm, less credit for 2 months, 5 days jail served.
“He received a global sentence of 3.5 years jail new time,” Varesi said.
Williams Lake RCMP Insp. Jeff Pelley said the investigation was conducted by the Combined Forces Special Investigation Unit while being supported locally by his detachment.
“It has certainly impacted the local drug trade and enhanced public safety,” Pelley noted when asked for a response to the sentencing.
The removal of firearms and illicit drugs from offenders, making them accountable to the judicial system remains a top priority of the RCMP in Williams Lake, he added.
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In a crime stats report presented to city council at its regular meeting Tuesday, May 14, Pelley noted drug possession offences have decreased in the first four months of 2019, compared to a similar time period in the previous year, with 29 offences so far in 2019, compared to 76 offences in 2018. There were 11 drug trafficking offences in the first four months of 2019 and 14 offences in 2018.
Pelley also said the Williams Lake RCMP will continue to use a consultative, research based approach to reducing crime by targetting efforts toward high volume offenders and known crime spots.
