KITCHENER

A street dealer who twice sold crack cocaine to an undercover cop in Kitchener got a break this week so he can keep his job at a fast-food restaurant.

"You are clearly a very valued employee," said Justice Michael Epstein, referring to a character letter submitted in court.

Robert Mullis, 30, pleaded guilty to two counts of low-level trafficking in connection with a larger undercover police investigation.

His sales -- one for $40 and the other for $80 -- took place on Hoffman Street in April 2007.

Typically, dealing even small amounts of crack draws a straight jail sentence. The prosecutor in this case argued for 12 months.

Epstein, however, went out of his way to craft a sentence to denounce dealing while also allowing Mullis -- a father of three who had an "absolutely abysmal upbringing" -- to build on progress he's made since his arrest.

The judge gave him 90 days of "real jail" to be served on weekends, followed by an 18-month conditional sentence of house arrest and two years on probation.

Mullis has held down a job at a New Hamburg restaurant for a year despite getting only a Grade 5 education while being raised by parents who abused drugs and alcohol. He read a letter of apology in court and said he is determined to be a responsible family man.

"I really hope you can see how sorry I am and give me another chance," Mullis said.

http://news.therecord.com/News/Local/article/385203