Cara Loverock
Northern News Services
Published Friday, June 6, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - A 23-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to eight months behind bars for trafficking cocaine and breaking and entering.

Christopher Rayworth appeared in NWT Supreme Court after pleading guilty to trafficking a substance presented to be cocaine and breaking into a private residence in Yellowknife on Jan. 4, 2008.

Rayworth, along with two other men, had sold what they claimed was cocaine to an unidentified individual who gave them a $50 bill. The men, including Rayworth, drove away, but shortly after discovered the bill was fake.

The three returned to the home. Rayworth and one of the men went to the house and broke down a locked door. Rayworth's co-accused, who was not named by the Crown, was carrying a tire iron.

The two men confronted the residents of the home. According to Justice J. Edward Richard, "yelling and commotion ensued."

Rayworth and his cohort then left the home. The residents called the RCMP, who located and arrested Rayworth within hours of the crime.

Crown prosecutor Sandy Aitken said Rayworth's guilty plea should be taken into account for sentencing.

"There were some concerns the Crown could prove the case," said Aitken, adding if it had gone to trial the prosecution would have relied heavily on the testimony of one of the co-accused, Stephen Pond.

Pond was sentenced in Territorial Court on May 13 to six months in jail for his role as the driver for Rayworth and his cohort.

Richard noted that Rayworth has 14 previous convictions, all of which were committed in Alberta.

"Now he has brought his amateur criminal behavior to Yellowknife," said Richard.

The judge also expressed frustration that Rayworth was on release conditions to keep the peace and be of good behavior when this incident occurred.

Rayworth spoke briefly to the court and said he would like to change his criminal ways. "I'd like to say sorry for what I've done," he said.

Richard handed down a sentence of eight months for trafficking and an additional eight months for breaking and entering.

The two terms will be served concurrently. Rayworth will also be required to submit to a DNA order.