LA Times: Former Kings center Mike Richards charged with drug possession

Kenora’s own Mike Richards, former LA Kings centre, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and U of M Faculty of Law professor Debra Parkes explained some aspects of the case to the LA Times:

“This is an offense for which there is a huge [sentencing] range,” said University of Manitoba law professor Debra Parkes. “It will all depend on the seriousness. I’ve seen examples of people getting discharges for possession of Oxycodone. There are some examples of that across Canada, if the person is an addict, if it is a relatively low amount, no record, that kind of thing. It could be a fine, or could possibly be imprisonment.

“Without a record, and assuming if it was a small amount, it would be possible to argue even for a discharge. But we don’t know enough about the facts.”