FINES, HOUSE ARREST FOR PARTICIPANTS OF TRAFFICKING RING

Sentences Reached Through Deal Include Numerous Conditions

Three people convicted for their part in a major marijuana ring
operating between B.C. and Saskatchewan were hit with fines up to
$10,000 and had their liberties clipped at their sentencing Monday.

"Their lives are tied up quite significantly for some time," Crown
prosecutor Wade McBride said afterwards.

Mark Bailey and Laurie Graham were each convicted on four counts of
conspiracy to traffic marijuana, while Karen Wilson was convicted of
two counts, for production of marijuana and possession for the
purpose of trafficking.

All three were part of a group of 15 people charged over the past
several months. The majority are from B.C.'s Salmon Arm region. The
drugs were grown in B.C. but sold across Alberta and Saskatchewan
between Feb. 26, 2001, and Dec. 31, 2002.

They were arrested after a sting on their Saskatchewan clients.
Bailey, Graham and Wilson were found to be transporting three
kilograms of marijuana when arrested, as well as several thousand
dollars.

All three pleaded guilty to their charges last month as part of a
plea bargain to avoid prison terms. Nonetheless, they must all abide
by strict conditional sentences that include periods of house arrest,
curfews, community service and some 60 conditions that further limit
their freedom.

"I am satisfied the sentences assure the public confidence in the
administration of justice and demonstrate that these matters will not
be tolerated. These are significant sentences with dramatic
limitations on (the) liberty (of the individuals)," said Justice
Gerry Allbright, noting conditional sentences are no walk in the park.

There is no early release for good behaviour or mandatory parole
eligibility as with prison sentences.

"It's like a sword above their heads," said McBride. "If they go
along good, they'll be OK. If not, it falls."

The entire sentence must be served, which is two years less a day in
the cases of Bailey and Graham on each of the four charges. The
terms, though, are concurrent. They both were given $10,000 fines and
hundreds of hours of community service.

"It's a big fine; big consequences," said Regina lawyer Scott Hopley,
who represented Graham.

Wilson's term is 18 months, a $2,700 fine and 90 hours of community
service. The threat of jail time exists if the fines are not paid
within a set amount of time.

Allbright noted that all three were bit players in the scheme, while
the ring leaders have already been sentenced to time in jail.
Wilson's role was the least significant, he said, calling her a
"prime candidate for rehabilitation."

Her lawyer, John Kwok, noted she has already improved her life. She
became involved in the crime through a relationship with another
accused, Jerry Bodnarchuk, but has since left him and changed her life.

Bodnarchuk was also scheduled to be sentenced Monday but it was
adjourned. He is in the process of moving and needs a permanent
address for many of the conditions to apply, McBride explained.

The conditions also include abiding by a restricted radius of travel
from their homes, not having contact with any of the other
individuals involved, wearing electronic monitoring devices and
having monitoring equipment installed in their homes to ensure they
do not speak on the phone for more than 15 minutes at a time.

Although one of the ring leaders is a known member of the Hells
Angels, there was no evidence the crimes were connected with the
outlaw motorcycle gang, said McBride.

Allbright commended McBride and the three defence lawyers for their
efforts in reaching the compromise, which saved the court great
expense and time. The trial was scheduled to take the entire month of
April before the plea agreement was struck.

Bailey, Graham and Wilson all plan to return to their B.C. homes this
week.