Guilty plea in “Operation Miami” bust

Drugs, cash and contraband seized by police in Operation Miami. (Photo courtesy of ALERT)

A city man is receiving a three-year penitentiary sentence following his guilty plea at Medicine Hat Court of King’s Bench Tuesday to trafficking cocaine, magic mushrooms, meth and oxycodone.

Sean Baker, 54, was charged following a five-month investigation, according to an Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) media release in March 2023.

During sentencing, the court heard that investigation went under the moniker of Operation Miami and was initiated following police being tipped off about cocaine being sold in the parking lot of a local bar.

Police made two undercover buys from Baker’s co-accused, Jeremy Siegers, totalling four grams of cocaine. Subsequent surveillance of Siegers lead police to Baker and his home.

Police were able to obtain a search warrant for Baker’s residence, recovering nearly $40,000, score sheets, digital scales, vials as well as agents used to make crack in addition to the more than 400 grams of cocaine.

The court heard Baker had fell on hard times following losing his job as a welder during the COVID pandemic, his life started to spiral and was in a position of desperation when he turned to drug dealing.

Since the incurring the charges and being released, Baker had been working low-paying jobs.

He expressed remorse for his actions through his lawyer and when asked by the justice if he’d like to state that himself, Baker responded, “I can’t say nothing,” through tears.

Alberta Court of Justice docket

A homeless man struggling with mental health issues will be back on the streets after receiving a 30-day, time-served sentence following pleading guilty to multiple assaults.

Gerald Booth, 30, was attending the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital in May and was found to have spit on an AHS peace officer as he was being escorted off the property, incurring an assault on a peace officer charge, the court heard.

Booth was involved in a subsequent altercation at the hospital resulting in assault and breach charges following his release with conditions not to attend the facility.

Following his release on the second set of charges, Booth was charged again with an unprovoked assault on a woman outside the downtown Circle K. He was also charged again with failing to comply with release conditions.

The court heard Booth is a member of the city’s vulnerable population and his ability to find shelter is in question as he has been banned from the facility. The court also heard Booth’s ability to have treatment for his mental health issues is problematic as he’s been banned from the hospital.

His sentence also included a 12-month probation period.

As part of his probation, Booth will be required to attend counselling and provide written proof of such.

However, Booth stated he doesn’t have a phone and requested to be able meet with probation officers in person to meet his requirements.