THUNDER BAY — A Superior Court justice has sentenced a repeat offender to six years in prison for drug trafficking.
Marc Quirion of Greenstone, now 32, was arrested by OPP on New Year's Day, 2021 after they conducted a traffic stop.
Inside his vehicle they found quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs as well as $6,600 in cash.
He was charged with trafficking, possession of proceeds of crime, and failing to comply with a release order.
In December 2024 Quirion entered a plea of guilty to a charge of trafficking in meth, and sentencing submissions were presented in April of this year.
The Crown proposed an 8-year term in penitentiary, while the man's lawyer suggested three years less credit for time served.
In the four years prior to his 2021 arrest, Quirion had multiple convictions including three for drug trafficking, four for failing to comply with release conditions, and two for failure to attend court.
A pre-sentence report indicated he was exposed to illicit drug use and trafficking from a young age, as various family members were involved in the drug trade.
A parole officer described him as exhibiting a history of high-risk behaviours and said he continues to present a significant risk to community safety.
In considering an appropriate sentence, Regional Senior Justice W. Danial Newton noted the defendant's criminal record, and that denunciation and deterrence are primary objectives.
"Although Mr. Quirion had substance abuse issues, the quantity of drugs and his criminal history lead to the conclusions that he was motivated for profit," he wrote in his reasons for decision released earlier this month.
The judge also observed that the quantity of drugs the man had in his possession were "a significant amount" for the small community of Greenstone.
Although he sentenced Quirion to six years in prison, credit for time spent in custody prior to the resolution of the case means Quirion will spend a further five years behind bars.