Pubdate: Mon, 09 Jul 2007
Source: Alberni Valley Times (CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 Alberni Valley Times
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouverisland/albernivalleytimes/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4043
Author: Julia Caranci, Alberni Valley Times
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

CRACK SHACK OWNER TOLD TO LEAVE CITY AFTER HIS RELEASE

A local man who sold cocaine out of his trailer and once referred to 
his home as 'Charlie's' Crack Shack' will spend two and a half months 
in jail and must leave the city after his release.

Long-time Port Alberni resident Charles L. Zilversmit was sentenced 
in Port Alberni Provincial Court on Friday after pleading guilty to 
one count of simple possession of cocaine and one count of possession 
of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

A pre-sentence report was prepared on Zilversmit - court heard the 
report found he provided cocaine to various people who lived for 
periods of time in his trailer on Falls Road so they wouldn't have to 
resort to prostitution to support their habits. He also used the 
money to support his own cocaine addiction, court heard.

According to the Federal Crown, Zilversmit had been selling cocaine 
out of his residence for a number of months and was well-known to 
police, who investigated and eventually searched the residence on two 
occasions, once on Dec. 4, 2006 and once on May 24, 2007.

Crown sought an additional four months in jail on top of the 40 days 
Zilversmit had already been in custody.

The defense sought a conditional sentence, noting Zilversmit wants to 
change his life and is planning to leave the city for work and a new life.

In sentencing Zilversmit, the judge noted the 54-year-old has had a 
long-standing addiction to both alcohol and drugs and a past record 
of related offences. She also noted he has not learned from "wake-up 
calls" he had received, such as losing his job in 1994 after 22 years 
because of his addiction.

The judge also pointed out he was under bail and probation conditions 
when the second offense occurred.

Court heard that Zilversmit was "misguided in his attempts to protect 
others from their addictions" and in fact was enabling them to use drugs.

Zilversmit was sentenced to 10 weeks in jail, taking into account 
time served, followed by one year of probation, with conditions that 
include he leave Port Alberni two weeks after completing his jail 
term and not return until his probation is complete, obey a curfew 
and have no contact with a number of named persons involved in the case.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman