ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Dustin Etheridge was sentenced to 10 years in jail Wednesday on a slew of charges, including plotting a murder, trying to bribe a police officer, cocaine trafficking offences and a charge related to the carrying of a loaded handgun.
The court was presented with a 25-page agreed statement of facts in Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court Wednesday morning, outlining details of the crimes Etheridge admitted to committing.
Etheridge was arrested in 2018 as part of Operation Tarantula, a joint RNC/RCMP investigation that had originated with Etheridge’s suspected criminal activity. During that investigation police learned Etheridge was the leader in a scheme with two accomplices — John Squires and Brandon Glasco — to murder another man, Bradley Summers. With the use of wiretaps, phone interceptions and surveillance, police intervened at the moment they believed the men were about to execute their plan, arresting Etheridge and Squires in a vehicle outside the residence where Glasco had lured Summers. Squires was carrying a loaded gun.
Glasco was arrested a month later.
Operation Tarantula resulted in the police seizure of hundreds of thousands of dollars, seven kilograms of cocaine, $240,000 in cash, 20 firearms, two vehicles and various drug paraphernalia.
Etheridge had initially pleaded not guilty to some of his charges and was scheduled to go to trial. He later changed his pleas.
Squires and Glasco were convicted in June and appeared in court for a sentencing hearing on their charges last week. The Crown is seeking a prison sentence of five years for Glasco and eight years for Squires, whose convictions also include weapons charges. Glasco’s lawyer has argued for a four-year jail sentence, while Squires’ lawyer made a case for seven years of jail time. Justice Donald Burrage is scheduled to deliver his decision Oct. 6.
When it comes to Etheridge, Burrage accepted a joint submission for a 10-year prison term presented by provincial Crown Jessica Gallant, federal Crown Elaine Reid and defence lawyer Erin Breen. With 555 days' credit for the jail time he has already served, Etheridge has about 8 1/2 years left on his sentence.
