A rare event at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield courthouse on Tuesday, April 23: Suroît resident Julie Matteau received a sentence of 2 years less a day to be served at home, with one year's probation, after admitting her involvement in drug trafficking. 

Even more unusual: the sentence imposed was a joint suggestion by the lawyers on the case, Me. Camille Taillefer for the Crown and Me. Alexandre Dubé for the defense. Normally, in a case like this, the accused would be sentenced to a firm prison term, as Judge Bertrand St-Arnaud was quick to point out to the accused and her lawyers. However, the latter succeeded in convincing the magistrate that he was dealing with a case of exceptional circumstances. 

The woman was accused of trafficking various substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine, as well as possessing a prohibited weapon.  

“This was an isolated gesture on the part of a woman who was in a very precarious financial situation. For a good part of her life, she had been living off the backs of people around her, like the father of her child.Overnight, she lost her job because of COVID-19, and she didn't want to lose the home she'd been living in for 12 years.So she chose this solution.What's more, she has a mental health issue that she has never addressed and for which she had never sought help.That's perhaps the only downside of this case: every time she asked for help, she couldn't do it because she was blocked,” pleaded Me. Dubé to the magistrate. 

Since the events, Ms. Matteau has pulled herself together, added her lawyer. “ She has since found a very good job for herself where she is paid $22 an hour, a position she would lose if she ended up in prison.I won't hide from your honour that when my colleague and I began our discussions with a view to proposing a joint suggestion, we discussed a firm prison sentence.Then our conversations progressed to the one we are making today.This is an exceptional case.She didn't choose this solution for the lure of gain, that is, to get rich, but rather to survive.It's important to distinguish between the two. She has a great deal of regret and remorse for her actions,” added the criminal lawyer defending the accused. 

An exceptional case 

Since the sentence suggestion was made jointly by the two lawyers, Mr. St-Arnaud agreed to endorse it. “It's very rare to see this type of sentence imposed in a similar case. I can't recall ever doing it in a previous case. However, you have succeeded in convincing me that this is an exceptional case, and that's why I'm going to follow your joint recommendation,” stated Judge Bertrand St-Arnaud after the facts had been presented by Mes.Taillefer and Dubé. 

As a result, he imposed a suspended sentence of two years less a day, together with one year's probation.In effect, the woman will have to remain at home 24 hours a day for the first 15 months, and will have to take calls from her probation officer at all hours of the day and night.

She will only be able to leave her residence on Saturday afternoons from 1pm to 5pm to run errands.Thereafter, for the remainder of the sentence, she must be at home between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., and continue to answer her probation officer's calls. 

Finally, for the year following the end of her sentence, she will also have to comply with several conditions, such as not disturbing the peace, not possessing firearms, not possessing illegal substances or prohibited weapons.

She will also have to obtain outpatient follow-up to treat her mental health problems and maintain good financial management. 

“These services will enable her to stay on the right path, so that we don't see her before the Tribunal again,” explained her lawyer, Me.Dubé in closing.  

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