NORTH BATTLEFORD - A man to be sentenced to 'significant jail time' failed to show for his sentencing hearing Tuesday morning in North Battleford court and police will now be looking to arrest him.
Kurt Miller, 40, was to be sentenced Jan. 25 but defence Robert Dick had requested it be delayed until Feb. 22 and federal Crown Kirsten Janis didn’t object to the adjournment. Miller’s sentencing was then set for Feb. 22.
Crown and defence had reached a joint submission and a significant period of incarceration is expected. Dick told the court by telephone on Jan. 25 that Crown had consented to Miller being released in December on significant bail so he could get his affairs in order before being sent to prison.
Miller was arrested in May 2020 during a traffic stop in Regina. The next day, the Saskatchewan RCMP Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit raided Miller's rural house in the R.M. of Glenside 27 kilometres north of Biggar and arrested Mitch Hutchinson, 49.
As a result of the traffic stop by Regina Police, Miller was charged with drug trafficking offences. He was also charged with possession of proceeds of crime under $5,000, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public and breach of probation. After a search of the rural property, Miller was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime over $5,000 and 16 firearms-related charges.
In May 2021, Hutchinson was sentenced to seven years in prison. He was charged with 18 offences and pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded, prohibited firearm and possession of a firearm loaded with ammunition. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking fentanyl, GHB, LSD and meth.
When police had surrounded the rural property during the drug bust an officer was shot. Hutchinson admitted to shooting an officer but said it was dark, he couldn't see, and thought it was a coyote. The officer was treated immediately for minor injuries. Hutchinson surrendered shortly after. Hutchinson sold drugs and it was his job to protect the rural house owned by Miller, the court heard.
At the property, police seized methamphetamine, fentanyl, GHB, Xanax pills and LSD. They also seized numerous weapons including a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun, a spent anti-tank weapons, a revolver and body armour. They also found $16,080 in Canadian currency, money counters, packaging for drugs, eight cell phones, computers and tablets.
