Two days are scheduled for sentencing a Prince George man found guilty last March on 2019 drugs and guns charges.
Scott William Loutit’s lawyer Jason LeBlond told B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ronald Tindale on Dec. 9 that Feb. 26 and 27 were reserved for the hearing. Loutit is not in custody. Tindale agreed and set the dates.
Last March 11, Justice Sandra Wilkinson found Loutit, 40, guilty of storing firearms carelessly, possession of a loaded restricted firearm and possession of cannabis for the purpose of selling it.
In March 2019, Prince George RCMP found $280,000 to $360,000 worth of marijuana at Loutit’s residence, $500,000 in bundled cash and four shotguns, a semi-automatic rifle, a pistol and revolver.
Before last March’s verdict, Loutit applied to stay the charges on the basis that his right to a trial within a reasonable time had been breached. In an Aug. 30 ruling, however, Wilkinson determined Loutit’s case had been delayed by 25 months and 23 days. The presumptive ceiling is 30 months, as set by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2016.
Loutit is facing more legal trouble, but in civil court.
On Dec. 3, the Director of Civil Forfeiture filed a notice in the Victoria registry against Loutit, claiming the sport utility vehicle and cash that RCMP seized from him last summer should be surrendered to the province because they are the proceeds of crime.
The director seeks Loutit’s 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited and $8,490 in cash found in Loutit’s possession on Aug. 9.
The director alleged Loutit obtained the money and vehicle through unlawful activity, used them for more unlawful activity and would continue to do so if he were to regain the money and vehicle.
The civil forfeiture filing said police searched the vehicle and found 211.89 grams of methamphetamine in a large plastic bag in the middle console, another $5,425 in Canadian cash and drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale with suspected drug residue. Loutit had $3,065 in Canadian currency sticking out of his pocket.
The civil forfeiture filing came almost a month after Loutit filed a Notice of Dispute to Administrative Forfeiture Proceedings in an effort to have the items returned.
None of the allegations has been proven in court and Loutit has yet to file a response.
