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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A Yellowknife man who pleaded guilty to a number of crimes - including two counts of possessing cocaine - will have to wait until April for a sentence.

Kiet Thai, 31, admitted to committing a string of crimes while he was "heavily under the influence of crack cocaine," said defence lawyer Hugh Latimer in territorial court last week.

Crown prosecutor Danielle Vaillancourt said Thai was found by RCMP on Aug. 7, 2008 passed out under a bed at a residence on Catalina Drive. He was charged with being unlawfully in a dwelling house.

Thai also pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for identifying himself as his brother to police on Aug. 7. When it was later realized he had lied about his identity, Thai was arrested again.

He pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a building in Lanky Court, where police found him in possession of two grams of crack cocaine on Sept. 16, 2008. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to appear in court, possessing 0.3 grams of crack cocaine during a search by RCMP on Oct. 14, 2008 and the theft of a propane tank. Thai stole the 30-pound propane tank from a Yellowknife residence on Nov. 2, 2008. He attached it to a heater and was using it to heat a vacant home he was inhabiting.

"This community has been plagued with crack cocaine" and its related crimes, said Vaillancourt.

Defence lawyer Hugh Latimer said Thai was working toward recovery, and is living in the Bailey House transitional home for men.

He said Thai's drug addiction got "out of control ... he let crack cocaine get the better of him."

"I feel like I've accomplished a lot," said Thai of the past three months, during which he has been clean and sober. "I feel like I'm blessed (to have) a second chance."

In a story about Bailey House published in the March 4 edition of Yellowknifer, Thai spoke openly of his criminal history.

"These are obstacles that I'm going through in my journey. The thing is, I have a court case and that is the final thing I am trying to put behind me," he said. "I am in a better chapter in my life now. I have nothing to hide."

Judge Brian Bruser said he would complete sentencing on April 21. He ordered that a pre-sentencing report be completed.