Full parole denied and day parole prolonged for West Kelowna drug trafficker – West Kelowna Information

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Leslie McCulloch, left

A former West Kelowna drug trafficker has been denied full parole and his day parole has been extended for six months.

Leslie John McCulloch was handed a 10-year sentence in 2019 for the production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

A raid on his West Kelowna business in March 2016 turned up a fake prescription pill manufacturing operation that was being used to produce pills that contained acetylfentanyl, an analogue of fentanyl. He was on parole for a prior cocaine trafficking conviction at the time of the police search.

He was released on day parole on October 12, 2021, but a month later, that day parole was revoked after the Correctional Service of Canada “received confidential information” that indicated he had “returned to behaviors consistent with [his] crime cycle.”

McCulloch successfully appealed the suspension despite the parole board describing him as “deceptive,” “arrogant” and “slippery.”

The release was not supported by McCulloch’s Case Management Team, who emphasized McCulloch’s “deception, manipulation and outright lies” and said he is “not manageable on day parole because of [his] lack of transparency.” His community slogan officer also submitted that McCulloch “cannot be managed in the community because [he is] clearly not transparent and [he] continues to lie.”

As a result, his latest attempt to secure full password has failed.

In its ruling made on October 28, the Parole Board of Canada said McCulloch’s community supervision has been problematic.

Referring to a criminal history dating back to 1999, the board pointed to an earlier parole violation in 2015 and the suspension of his statutory release in 2017 after it was discovered he was residing with a person who was facing multiple drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The board looked at his risk to re-offend, whether he presents a risk to society and if his release will facilitate his reintegration into society as a law-abiding citizen.

“Applying these criteria to the factors in your case, the Board continues your [day parole] for a period of six months, with conditions imposed. Leave privileges are not restricted,” reads the decision.

The board adds that full parole is considered premature at this time. It notes that McCulloch’s Criminal Risk Index yielded a score of 10. Research found that 13% of men in this category committed an offense within three years of release.

Special conditions placed on the 44-year-old man’s day parole include a requirement to provide documented financial information to his parole officer and a ban on owning or possessing more than one cell phone or SIM card.

“Multiple cell phones are synonymous with drug trafficking. You have also had contraband items found in your room on [day parole] in this regard. Your [case management team] must monitor your usage to ensure you are using your cell phone for legitimate purposes only,” wrote the board.