A Summerland man is spending the next few weekends in jail after he was found with a large amount of cocaine outside of a Penticton nightclub.
Jessie Howard Sayers pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance in Penticton Provincial Court on Oct. 26.
Police were patrolling the Mule Nightclub on Martin Street on April 9 when they observed Sayers standing outside of the nightclub balancing himself on a tree while staring at police, Crown said.
Police were advised that Sayers had been involved in an incident at the nightclub the previous night. Police approached Sayers and told him it was time to go home and taking a cab would be a good idea.
Sayers got in a cab and left the area. When the club closed at 3 a.m. police remained outside the Mule and observed him walking back towards the bar. Police said Sayers was “very intoxicated.”
Sayers was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place. After a search of Sayers prior to placing him in cells, a black string was discovered tied to his jeans.
Upon being asked what the string was, Sayers told police “you know what it is,” and eventually told police it was attached to a bag with cocaine.
Federal Crown counsel Ginger Holmes said four bags with cocaine were discovered in a black pouch tied to the string. Sayers was re-arrested for possession of a controlled substance and found to be in possession of 8.46 grams of cocaine.
“Mr. Sayers wasn’t aware it was that much cocaine,” said defence counsel Norm Yates.
Sayers has two prior drug convictions, one 2012 conviction for possession of a controlled substance and one in 2013 for possession for the purpose of trafficking — for which Sayers served a conditional sentence.
Sayers was sentenced to 30 days in jail, to be served intermittently on weekends.