HEARTBROKEN DRUG DEALER SPARED JAIL TIME

Man, 48, Turned To Booze, Cocaine after Wife Ended Their Relationship

A man who turned to booze and cocaine to mend his broken heart narrowly
avoided a stint behind bars after pleading guilty to drug trafficking.

Roger Young had 12 ounces of cocaine with a street value of about $40,000
when he was pulled over by police in July 2003.

Normally such a seizure would mean an automatic trip to the penitentiary.

But yesterday, Court of Queen's Bench Justice Colleen Suche agreed to a
joint recommendation for a conditional sentence of two years less a day,
allowing Young to serve his time in the community.

"With some hesitation, I'm going to accept the recommendation," Suche said.

Both Crown and defence admitted the case presented "unusual circumstances."
Defence lawyer Tim Killeen told the court that Young's downward slide began
when his wife announced she was leaving him a few years ago.

Young, 48, worked as a welder, putting in time in remote locations like the
Beaufort Sea.

Killeen said Young earned good money and lived a comfortable life with his
family.

However, the job also meant that he spent long stretches away from home.

Upon Young's return one time, his wife announced that their relationship
was over, Killeen said.

"He (Young) started to drink and dabble in drugs, and that dabbling turned
into a habit and an addiction," Killeen said. Young not only lost his wife,
but his job, his house and most of his other assets.

With his drug debts mounting, he became involved in selling cocaine in an
attempt to repay the money he owed.

"After he was arrested, he eventually came to realize the depths to which
he had sunk," Killeen said.

Court was told that Young checked himself into the detox centre at St.
Boniface General Hospital and then spent more than six months at the
Behavioural Health Foundation, where he was able to kick his addiction.

Today, Killeen said, his client is back at work and living with his mother
in her two-room apartment.

He also regularly attends the Gordon-King Memorial United Church, where he
plays in the church band. He also talks to other parishioners who may have
difficulty with addictions.

"I've done everything I can do to put my life back on track," Young told
the judge.

Young was also fined $8,000 and must perform 150 hours of community service
work.