DRUG DEALER NEEDED CASH TO PAY LAWYER

Three weeks after receiving a conditional sentence for selling
marijuana, a Regina man was back peddling pot once again -- this time
to raise money to pay his lawyer.

Michael John Mock, 27, pleaded guilty Wednesday to breaching his
conditional sentence and to several other charges, including
possession of marijuana, trafficking marijuana, shoplifting and
conspiracy to traffic marijuana.

Hal Wellsch, agent for the Federal Crown, said Mock was given a
15-month conditional sentence in January, after pleading guilty to
possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Police searching Mock's house three weeks later found 11/2 pounds of
marijuana, as well as scales and other trafficking
paraphernalia.

Officers at the scene also answered Mock's telephone and spoke to
someone wanting to buy marijuana from Mock.

Mock gave a statement to police saying he'd gone back to selling
marijuana because he had an outstanding debt to his lawyer, and no
other way to pay it.

The other drug charges arose after evidence against Mock was caught on
wiretaps as part of another drug investigation in Regina.

Defence lawyer Robin Neufeld said Mock has three kids and a mortgage,
and held a steady job for five years. Neufeld said Mock's own drug
problems contributed to the situation.

"Essentially he was doing this to pay debts. He wasn't living high on
the hog," Neufeld said.

Based on a joint submission by the defence and the Crown, Provincial
Court Judge Bruce Henning terminated Mock's conditional sentence,
meaning Mock will have to serve the rest of the 15-month conditional
sentence in custody. With the other charges -- and given credit for
the six weeks he has spent on remand -- Mock received a total sentence
of 32 months in prison.