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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man on parole from a life sentence in prison has gone back to jail after being arrested in August for drinking and driving.

Patrick Kotok appeared in territorial court on Tuesday before Judge Brian Bruser.

When asked if he wanted a lawyer Kotok replied, "It doesn't really matter. It doesn't change my sentence."

Kotok, who has been serving a life sentence since 1983, added, "I'm a lifer."

He told the judge, "I'll plead guilty right now."

Kotok was convicted of driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit of 80 milligrams. He was sentenced to a two-year driving prohibition and 30 days in jail - which cannot be served in addition to his life sentence.

"When you did this you were serving a life sentence, albeit on parole," said Bruser.

"By (driving while impaired) you could have ended the lives of people on the highway - and the sentence you were serving was for taking a life."

The parole board will consider the incident the next time it reviews Kotok's parole eligibility, Crown attorney Shannon Smallwood said.

Wife calls cops on drunk-driving husband

A Yellowknife man was arrested for driving to Edzo while intoxicated after his wife called RCMP.

Hugh McSwain pleaded guilty to driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit in the early morning hours of Aug. 15. He was seen swerving repeatedly into the oncoming traffic lane on Highway 3 before his arrest.

"Your wife did the right thing by telephoning this in," Judge Brian Bruser told the man.

He added the spouse could have saved many lives by doing so including her husband's.

"I hope you don't bear any grudge for what she did," Bruser said.

McSwain said he did not. He was sentenced to a year's driving prohibition and a $1,150 fine.

Fined for trafficking magic mushrooms

A 20-year-old Yellowknife man was fined $345 for possession of 5.3 grams of psilocybin - otherwise known as magic mushrooms.

"We don't see too many cases of this particular drug in court," said Judge Brian Bruser on Tuesday.

The man pleaded guilty to the possession charge. The incident dated back to June 13, when RCMP observed the man and another male walking along 50 Street.

The male accompanying the 20-year-old man met a woman behind a red garbage bin and proceeded with a hand-to-hand drug transaction according to RCMP, said Crown lawyer Shannon Smallwood.

The 20-year-old was arrested thereafter for possession. The other man, a youth, is also facing charges.

Considering the circumstances of his arrest, said Smallwood, the Crown had some concern trafficking was taking place at the location where the man was found.

The Crown had further concerns the man "contributes to the drug problem in the city and downtown Yellowknife," said Smallwood.

"I'm not a drug dealer," the 20-year-old responded.

He contended that "you guys" - referring to the court - were making him out to be one.

"This court has nothing to do with accusing anybody of anything," said Bruser.

"People in Yellowknife don't like people who do drugs," he added.