Convicted drug dealer faces new charges
Lawrence (Larry) Steven Chippin, 62, of Fredericton, set to be sentenced in January for meth possession for trafficking purposes, now accused of breaching release conditions
A Fredericton man awaiting sentencing for an allegation he had methamphetamines for trafficking now finds himself in custody, accused of breaching the terms of his release.
Lawrence (Larry) Steven Chippin, 62, of Dundonald Street, was convicted after trial in Fredericton provincial court this year for possession of meth for the purpose of trafficking.
He had been scheduled for a sentencing hearing for the drug-trafficking offence last month, but it was adjourned at that time because the court heard Chippin had new, pending charges.
His case was back in provincial court Monday, both to reschedule the sentencing hearing but also for his first appearance on the afore-mentioned new allegations.
Chippin now stands charged with breaching a curfew condition and requirement to reside at a Dundonald Street apartment on three occasions: Feb. 2, Oct. 4 and Nov. 25.
He’s also now charged with simple possession of crystal meth, also on Oct. 4.
Chippin appeared by telephone in Fredericton provincial court Monday from the city police station cellblock.
The Crown objected to his release, and Judge Natalie LeBlanc remanded him pending a bail hearing, which she set for Thursday.
She also scheduled his new sentencing date for Jan. 8.
During his appearance in court, Chippin seemed at a loss as to why he’d been arrested again.
He said he’s been living at a Kingsley Road residence for some time now, having moved from the Dundonald Street location a while ago.
LeBlanc told him that for a defendant to stray from any condition of a release order, he or she would first have to apply to the court to change it.
Meth operation in motel room
Chippin’s conviction for meth possession for trafficking purposes stemmed from a Fredericton Police Force investigation focusing on activity at the motel room in which he was living two years ago.
That probe, court heard, culminated in officers executing a search warrant at Room 221 at the Days Inn on Prospect Street on July 30, 2021.
Evidence at trial showed that police found meth in crystal and pill form in plain sight in the motel room, as well as other items associated with drug trafficking, such as dime baggies, scoresheets and digital scales.
Officers also found a laptop computer on which there were Facebook Messenger conversations on Chippin’s account through which drug transactions were conducted.Â
The defendant testified the drugs all belonged to Eddie Sivret Jr., who paid some of the cost of the motel room for his trafficking activity. He said he turned a blind eye to what Sivret was doing, and also claimed Sivret had used his laptop and Facebook account.
Sivret was unavailable as a witness because he died in 2021, after the motel raid and Chippin’s arrest.
Judge Cameron Gunn, in rendering his decision on the trial, said even if he believed Chippin - which he didn’t - the defendant’s own account shows he was involved in trafficking activity and had both constructive and joint possession of the drugs.
"The evidence of knowledge here is simply overwhelming," Gunn said in his decision.
In addition to the trafficking offence, Chippin is set to be sentenced in January for other crimes as well: personal possession of cocaine and meth in Fredericton on May 19, 2021; and a violation of a police undertaking on July 5, 2021, requiring him to reside at a McGee Street home in Lincoln and to observe a curfew there.
Don MacPherson can be contacted at ftonindependent@gmail.com.