Red Deer man sentenced in local drug and firearms seizure

Wickett, however, failed to appear, so a warrant was issued for his arrest and his counsel withdrew their services, causing a delay in getting a new preliminary hearing scheduled. It was eventually scheduled for June 30, 2025.

Payne was facing two counts of possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of the proceeds of crime, selling unpackaged tobacco, and multiple firearm offences.

According to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC), Crown counsel must only proceed with prosecutions where two conditions are met: there is a reasonable prospect of conviction, and the prosecution is in the public interest. In this case, according to the PPSC, the Crown determined that the prosecution against Payne no longer met this criteria and withdrew the charges.

It was in March 2023, when Blackfalds RCMP say they began an investigation into drug trafficking in the Blackfalds and Red Deer areas.

As a result of the investigation, on May 2, 2023, with assistance from members in Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, and Police Dog Services, officers conducted two search warrants in the Glendale area of Red Deer and allegedly seized:

28.9 grams of suspected Methamphetamine

13.5 grams of suspected Fentanyl

2 firearms (one loaded)

“This investigation saw GIS units from three RCMP detachments working collaboratively to bring things to their successful conclusion,“ said Sgt. Brent Dueck, acting Detachment Commander, Blackfalds RCMP, at the time of the arrests.

RCMP originally charged Chad Wickett and Candace Payne with:

Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x2)

Possession of the proceeds of crime

Selling unpackaged tobacco

Multiple firearms offences

by Sheldon Spackman

Red Deer man sentenced in local drug and firearms seizure

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