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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A 20-year-old Yellowknife woman who pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of cocaine was not sent to jail but was given probation with several conditions on Jan. 15.

"Your rehabilitation is a very important concern for me," Judge Robert Gorin told the woman.

She had been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of possession.

The woman was given a suspended sentence and nine months probation after she admitted that cocaine found by RCMP during a raid "was for her personal use," said Crown prosecutor Christine Gagnon.

On Aug. 2 police used a search warrant to go into a downtown residence, where the woman lived with other people, and recovered 8.9 grams of cocaine in powder form in a purse along with $473 in cash.

"There was different quantities of drugs found in different places," said Gagnon.

A co-accused was also charged in relation to the drug raid but has not been located and there is a warrant for his arrest.

Defence lawyer Jay Bran said the woman had no prior criminal record and asked for a community-based sentence so she could continue to go to work.

Gorin said given the woman's young age and lack of a criminal record he would not be imposing jail time.

In addition to probation, the woman was ordered not to be within 10 metres of any drinking establishment, except for work purposes. She was also sentenced to not have any contact with her co-accused, pay a $100 victim of crimes surcharge and participate in "any and all counselling as directed by your probation order," said Gorin.