Hailey Okemow appeared Tuesday at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Drug trafficker receives 17 months jail, told not to show up in court again

Oct 3, 2023 | 12:01 PM

A young woman charged after a drug bust at Montreal Lake Cree Nation has received 17 months in jail and 12 months probation.

Hailey Okemow, 22, had been scheduled to face trial Tuesday morning at Prince Albert Provincial Court, but a number of guilty pleas were entered instead. The sentence represented a joint submission from the lawyers involved.

The case itself dates back to Dec. 2022 when police initially searched a home on the reserve for a possession of stolen property investigation.

Instead, they found roughly 30 grams of meth, firearm components, $3,800 in cash, and drug trafficking paraphernalia including cell phones, baggies and scales.

At the time of the incident, Okemow was also on a CSO order which prohibited her from possessing any drugs or weapons.

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Okemow’s lawyer Michelle Caron explained Okemow was in a downward spiral, dealing with significant personal losses.

Caron, however, also explained that Okemow has shown great remorse for her actions and has made a number of positive steps including cutting ties with negative influences, working on her GED, and connecting with some culture-based rehabilitation.

“This has been a huge wake-up call for Miss Okemow,” she said.

Noting Okemow’s youth, Judge Jackson encouraged her to stay on a positive path.

“I hope you’re not before the court again,” he said.

In addition to the charges from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Okemow also had charges from Prince Albert, relating to a drug bust in Feb. 2023.

Those charges were withdrawn by the Crown Brent Slobodian who later told paNOW all the evidence pointed to the co-accused. Karalyn Naytowhow received a jail sentence of 15 months.

nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @nigelmaxwell