Robert John Harper was sentenced for a dial-a-dope operation. He was arrested after drugs were found in his car during a traffic stop in Nanaimo in 2017. (NanaimoNewsNOW file photo)

By Ian Holmes

fentanyl

Offender jailed for Nanaimo dial-a-dope operation

Apr 21, 2021 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — A man was sentenced to 27 months behind bars after his street level drug trafficking scheme was uncovered during a Nanaimo traffic stop.

Robert John Harper, 35, was sentenced in the BC Supreme Court in Nanaimo on Friday, April 16 following his conviction on three charges last fall.

Harper will serve a further 16 months in jail after he earned 11 months of in-custody credit.

He was pulled over by Nanaimo RCMP in October 2017 where in his vehicle police found just under five grams of fentanyl, 24 grams of crystal meth and 400 millimeters of GHB, known as the date rape drug.

Bear spray, drug paraphernalia, $600 cash and a cell phone were also seized.

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Justice John Harvey said the evidence clearly showed Harper contacting clients to set-up deliveries.

“He was well aware that he was selling fentanyl and actively promoting its potency to respective purchasers,” judge Harvey said.

Justice Harvey said Harper didn’t have a criminal record at the time, but was convicted of trafficking fentanyl and meth in a 2019 offence.

He recommended Harper serve his time at the Nanaimo Correctional Centre in order to potentially benefit from its highly regarded Guthrie Therapeutic Community rehab program.

Justice Harvey said Harper has failed to address his longstanding addiction issues, starting when Harper became addicted to meth at 30-years-old.

The Crown sought a three year sentence, which is the high end of the sentencing range, while the defence lobbied for 18 months behind bars.

Crown prosecutor Ian McFadgen said opioids like fentanyl are “the source of untold misery and destruction,” including serious and sometimes overlooked ramifications like brain damage.

“I think it’s important for Mr. Harper to appreciate his selling of fentanyl may well have killed someone,” McFadgen said during sentencing arguments.

A record 46 fentanyl detected overdose deaths occurred in Nanaimo in 2017, according to BC Coroners Service data.

Harper was also handed one year probation following his release.

He didn’t address court during his hearing in which he appeared from jail through a video feed.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes