Pubdate: Thu, 04 Oct 2007 Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN) Copyright: 2007 The Leader-Post Ltd. Contact: http://www.canada.com/regina/leaderpost/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361 Author: Jana G. Pruden, Leader-Post Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake