Fentanyl trafficker on bail, pending his appeal

A fentanyl trafficker who was arrested with a large quantity of drugs in his possession and was sentenced to six years in jail has been ordered released on bail pending his appeal.

In May last year, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin convicted Scott William Cashman, 38, of seven counts of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

He was arrested after police executed a search warrant at a residence he shared with Christopher Leigh Harmes in Mission.

The judge found him guilty of possessing 3.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 1.6 kg of methamphetamine, 284 grams of cocaine, 509 grams of ketamine, 844 codeine pills, 558 hydromorphone pills and 40 morphine pills.

Harmes also was convicted in connection with the drug seizure, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Cashman, who had been on bail for about two years until the date of his sentencing, applied to be released from prison pending his appeal. At the bail hearing, the Crown conceded his appeal was not frivolous and he was not a flight risk, but argued that his release would pose a safety risk in the community.

Cashman countered that he had not reoffended in the four-month period following his initial arrest and release.