Judge denies bail

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This article was published 30/09/2023 (1096 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man on a bike who came to police attention during a mischief call last weekend and was then charged with trafficking meth and cocaine will remain behind bars.

Abraham Mecas, 29, was denied bail in court on Friday after a judge decided that his detention was necessary for public safety. Mecas is facing drug trafficking charges as well as possessing weapons and stolen property. The Crown opposed his release.

Federal Crown attorney Eric Penner read the evidence for the charges in court. The charges against Mecas have not been proven in court and he remains innocent until proven guilty.

On Sept. 23, Brandon police responded to a report of a man wearing all black who was apparently damaging a vehicle in the parking lot of an autobody shop. When police arrived on scene at about 1:20 a.m., they saw a man matching the description riding a bike. Police tried to stop the man, but he fled, resulting in a short chase.

While the man fled, officers saw him throw something into the backyard of a home on 15th Street.

Once he was arrested, police found 1.8 grams of meth on him, which has a street value of $180, and one gram of cocaine worth $100. Officers also found $1,030 in cash and, in the backyard where the man was seen throwing items, police found a can of bear spray and a cellphone. The bike he was riding had part of the serial number ground off.

Penner cited Mecas’ criminal record, which includes prior trafficking and weapons convictions. He also said that Mecas continued to rack up trafficking charges, even after receiving jail sentences for the same offences. Penner argued that if released, Mecas would reoffend.

Mecas’ lawyer, Melissa Jenin, said that her client had gotten the cash from playing the slot machines at a bar earlier and was biking back home that night. He said he didn’t know that it was police who were trying to stop him, as he only saw flashlights.

It wasn’t until Mecas hit the police cruiser and fell down that he realized it was the authorities, Jenin said. The defence lawyer said that Mecas claims he was stomped on by police and wasn’t given an opportunity to call a lawyer.

Jenin said that the quantity of drugs allegedly found were small and more consistent with possession for personal use.

Jenin presented a bail plan that would have her client living in Brandon with his girlfriend, while being subject to a court-ordered curfew.

Associate chief Judge Donovan Dvorak acknowledged that the amount of drugs was small, though he said that the amount of cash was significant.

Dvorak said that based on his criminal record, Mecas has a six-year history of dealing drugs and a pattern of being released and reoffending. The judge sided with the Crown and said that releasing the 29-year-old would likely see him returning to the same behaviour.

“It’s not just random criminal involvement,” Dvorak said, denying Mecas bail.

Mecas’ matter will next appear in court on Oct. 12.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com

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