R. v. Voong (D.M.) (2015), 374 B.C.A.C. 166 (CA);
642 W.A.C. 166
MLB headnote and full text
Temp. Cite: [2015] B.C.A.C. TBEd. JL.002
Regina (appellant) v. Dau Man Voong (respondent)
(CA42051)
Regina (appellant) v. Thomas Andrew Taylor (respondent)
(CA42409)
Regina (appellant) v. Krystal Marie Charlton (respondent)
(CA42412)
Regina (appellant) v. Jonathan John Galang (respondent)
(CA42325; 2015 BCCA 285)
Indexed As: R. v. Voong (D.M.) et al.
British Columbia Court of Appeal
Bennett, Garson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A.
June 25, 2015.
Summary:
The four accused pleaded guilty to trafficking drugs or possession for the purpose of trafficking in respect of a dial-a-dope operation. Amendments to the Criminal Code in 2012 precluded conditional sentences. Three accused sold drugs to support their drug habits and had criminal records. The fourth accused (Galang) was a first time offender who was selling drugs to help a friend pay off a drug debt. Each accused was sentenced to a suspended sentence plus probation. The Crown sought leave to appeal the four sentences, arguing that absent exceptional circumstances incarceration was required to address deterrence and denunciation respecting drug offences. The Crown argued that the suspended sentences were used as unlawful substitutes for the conditional sentences that were no longer available.
The British Columbia Court of Appeal granted leave to appeal. Two appeals were dismissed (Voong and Charlton). One appeal was allowed to the extent of increasing the length of the probation order (Galang). The other appeal was allowed and a sentence of six months’ imprisonment followed by one year’s probation was substituted for the suspended sentence (Taylor).
Criminal Law – Topic 5704
Punishments (sentence) – Suspended sentence – Circumstances when appropriate – See paragraphs 19 to 23.
Criminal Law – Topic 5720.4
Punishments (sentence) – Conditional sentence – When available or appropriate – See paragraphs 24 to 36.
Criminal Law – Topic 5721
Punishments (sentence) – Probation or probation order – General – See paragraphs 37 to 44.
Criminal Law – Topic 5830.8
Sentencing – Considerations on imposing sentence – Drug and narcotic offences – See paragraphs 44 to 107.
Criminal Law – Topic 5846.5
Sentencing – Considerations on imposing sentence – Sentence precedents (incl. starting point principle and sentencing ranges) – See paragraphs 44 to 107.
Criminal Law – Topic 5850
Sentence – Particular offences – Trafficking in a narcotic or a controlled drug or substance – See paragraphs 44 to 107.
Criminal Law – Topic 6201
Sentencing – Appeals – Variation of sentence – Powers of appeal court (incl. standard of review) – See paragraphs 8 to 14.
Cases Noticed:
R. v. L.M. (2008), 374 N.R. 351; 2008 SCC 31, refd to. [para. 8].
R. v. Shropshire (M.T.), [1995] 4 S.C.R. 227; 188 N.R. 284; 65 B.C.A.C. 37; 106 W.A.C. 37, refd to. [para. 8].
R. v. C.A.M., [1996] 1 S.C.R. 500; 194 N.R. 321; 73 B.C.A.C. 81; 120 W.A.C. 81, refd to. [para. 8].
R. v. Nasogaluak (L.M.) (2010), 398 N.R. 107; 474 A.R. 88; 479 W.A.C. 88; 2010 SCC 6, refd to. [para. 12].
R. v. Johnson (D.K.) (1996), 84 B.C.A.C. 261; 137 W.A.C. 261; 112 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].
R. v. Oates (K.A.L.) (2015), 373 B.C.A.C. 123; 641 W.A.C. 123; 2015 BCCA 259, refd to. [para. 16].
R. v. Franklin (J.D.), [2001] B.C.T.C. 706; 2001 BCSC 706, refd to. [para. 16].
R. v. Harding, [1977] B.C.J. No. 839 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].
R. v. Huang (Y.W.) (1993), 27 B.C.A.C. 293; 45 W.A.C. 293 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].
R. v. Yamanaka (G.G.) (1994), 41 B.C.A.C. 307; 66 W.A.C. 307 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 23].
R. v. Proulx (J.K.D.) (2000), 249 N.R. 201; 2000 SCC 5, refd to. [para. 24].
R. v. Ziatas (1973), 13 C.C.C.(3d) 287 (Ont. C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].
R. v. Lavender (1981), 59 C.C.C.(2d) 551 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].
R. v. D.E.S.M. (1993), 24 B.C.A.C. 305; 40 W.A.C. 305; 80 C.C.C.(3d) 371 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].
R. v. Shoker (H.S.) (2006), 353 N.R. 160; 230 B.C.A.C. 1; 380 W.A.C. 1; 2006 SCC 44, refd to. [para. 38].
R. v. Saunders (A.) (1993), 39 B.C.A.C. 157; 64 W.A.C. 157 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 39].
R. v. George (1992), 112 N.S.R.(2d) 183; 307 A.P.R. 183 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].
R. v. Martin (V.N.) (1996), 154 N.S.R.(2d) 268; 452 A.P.R. 268 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].
R. v. R.T.M. (1996), 151 N.S.R.(2d) 235; 440 A.P.R. 235 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].
R. v. Savenco (1988), 26 Q.A.C. 291 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 42].
R. v. Grady (1971), 5 N.S.R.(2d) 264 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43].
R. v. Sidhu (G.S.) (1998), 111 B.C.A.C. 253; 181 W.A.C. 253; 129 C.C.C.(3d) 26 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43].
R. v. Preston (1990), 47 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 46].
R. v. Smith (T.D.) (2013), 337 B.C.A.C. 27; 576 W.A.C. 27; 2013 BCCA 173, refd to. [para. 47].
R. v. Ahmed (S.) (2001), 159 B.C.A.C. 136; 259 W.A.C. 136; 2001 BCCA 504, refd to. [para. 49].
R. v. Chang (D.T.W.) (2002), 179 B.C.A.C. 72; 295 W.A.C. 72; 2002 BCCA 644, refd to. [para. 51].
R. v. Tran (L.V.) (2008), 250 B.C.A.C. 38; 416 W.A.C. 38; 2007 BCCA 613, refd to. [para. 52].
R. v. Charlie (M.P.) (2008), 251 B.C.A.C. 134; 420 W.A.C. 134; 2008 BCCA 44, refd to. [para. 53].
R. v. Amhaz (H.A.) (2013), 341 B.C.A.C. 139; 582 W.A.C. 139; 2013 BCCA 348, refd to. [para. 54].
R. v. Cisneros (P.A.) (2014), 354 B.C.A.C. 82; 605 W.A.C. 82; 2014 BCCA 154, refd to. [para. 56].
Counsel:
W.P. Riley, Q.C., for the appellant;
L. Helps, for the respondent, Dau Man Voong;
E. Purtzki, for the respondent, Thomas Andrew Taylor;
J. Heller, for the respondent, Krystal Marie Charlton;
The respondent, Jonathan John Galang, in person.
This appeal was heard on March 30, 2015, at Vancouver, B.C., before Bennett, Garson and Stromberg-Stein, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal.
On June 25, 2015, Bennett, J.A., delivered the following judgment for the Court of Appeal.
