Unique offender sentenced for Nanaimo drug busts

In early January 2021 Patterson was arrested on an unrelated warrant where police seized 14 grams of a fentanyl/carfentanyl mix, a small amount of cocaine, pair of restricted knives and cash.

He was taken to police cells, appearing to be withdrawing from hard drug use and later released.

About two-and-a-half months later in late March a complaint to Nanaimo RCMP was made regarding three people appearing to be passed out in a vehicle on a forest service road in the Nanaimo Lakes Rd. area.

Three RCMP cruisers were dispatched, with one Mountie standing on the road as the driver, later determined to be Patterson, slowly proceeded forward.

“Mr. Patterson was clearly under the influence of drugs and once he began to comply with police demands he appeared to be falling asleep with his hands still up,” the Crown’s Jenny Rutherford told court.

Patterson had a substantial amount of drugs stuffed down his pants in a Ziploc bag.

He failed a field sobriety test and did not have a valid driver’s licence.

Patterson has been in jail since March 8, 2022 after he turned himself into police in response to a warrant for his arrest.

Pre sentence and psychiatric reports of Patterson were ordered and completed last fall to provide more context on Patterson’s background and offending.

The forensic examination showed Patterson has a moderate intellectual disability, including an ADHD diagnosis at the age of eight for which he was prescribed medication he stopped using a few years later.

Patterson struggled in school which was described as “a nightmare” at a time where court was told the education system couldn’t adequately support him.

He was bullied as a teenager and Patterson dropped out of John Barsby Secondary School following grade 10.

Despite Patterson’s challenges, court was told he comes from a loving, supportive family.

The courtroom gallery included several family members backing Patterson during his hearing, which often isn’t the case.

Several character reference letters on the family’s behalf were submitted to the court.

Patterson didn’t have friends while growing up, instead forming disingenuous alliances with “troublemakers” involved in drugs, the hearing was told.

He first used heroin at the age of 14 and has been a fentanyl user for about a decade since moving back to Nanaimo from Penticton.

At 14, Patterson was recruited by an acquaintance’s father to sell heroin on his behalf.

Despite his involvement with hard drugs for many years, a risk assessment suggested Patterson does not present an elevated threat of violence.

“In fact, he is at increased risk for being preyed upon by criminal elements in his community on account of his limited intellect,” Rutherford said quoting the forensic evaluation.

The forensic opinion stated Patterson’s significantly limited intellect directly related to his poor decision-making.

Rutherford said Patterson’s case presented many unique and compelling factors separating him from other similar offenders, noting typically his crimes would have called for a more severe punishment.

She said from a young age Patterson was swayed as an impressionable follower.

“Usually that is given to disassociate a person from accountability, in this case it seems to have a real and definite negative impact on how Mr. Patterson operates in the community.”

Rutherford acknowledged rehabilitative steps Patterson has made in custody toward his addiction and future potential job prospects in order to stabilize his life and reverse a sporadic employment history.

Kelly Bradshaw, Patterson’s lawyer, told the court her client is thankful for the sentence crafted for him and he wants to be an auto mechanic.

She noted the drug busts he was sentenced for represented substances for both his personal use and trafficking.

Judge Ron Lamperson was clearly sympathetic to everything Patterson has been through.

“I think it’s outrageous that a grown man would introduce a teenager to, not just marijuana or a softer drug, but heroin and encourage him to selling it,” the judge said.

Patterson’s limited criminal record features a 2016 conviction for drug trafficking, resulting in seven month jail sentence.

The father of two is scheduled to serve five years and three months in jail with credit for time served taken into account.

Patterson was also issued a one year driving ban to take effect when he’s released, along with a $1,000 fine.

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by Ian Holmes

Unique offender sentenced for Nanaimo drug busts

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