For 2nd time in a week, accused drug dealer freed over sheriff shortage in B.C.

For the second time in six days, an accused drugdealer has walked free from a Victoria, B.C. courthouse because of a sheriff shortage in the province.

Public Safety CriticMike Farnworth raised the issue in question period Thursday, the day after adrug trafficking charge and two weapons charges were stayed against Michael Dubensky.

"This is completely unacceptable. This was in the Supreme Court. The kind of cases that get there aren't trivial cases," the NDP criticsaid.

"Because of a lack of sheriffswhich this government has known about for ages,that this individual walks free and smiles when they walk free is just outrageous."

Dubsenkyhas been in and out of the legal system since 2003, according to court records.

Illness blamed

After being confronted in question period, B.C. Justice Minister Suzanne Anton said sicknesswas partly to blamefor stretched resources in the capital city.

"Nobody likes to see [people set free]," she said. "There is a challenge in Victoria this week because of the very significant demand on resources with illnessbut we're changing that."

On Friday, a drug trafficking chargeagainst accused dealer RichardD'Allesandrowas stayedbecause there was no sheriffto escort the accusedfrom a holding cell to the courtroom.

On Monday, Anton described D'Allesandro'scaseas an "anomaly."

She saidthe province is "doubling" the amount of sheriffs being trained, withnearly 100 trainees slated tograduate from the justice institutein the next two years.

But during question period, theNDP notedthat the number of sheriffs has dropped by 20 per cent since 2012 down from 500 to 400 provincewide.

Anton wouldn't say if she plans to bring in sheriffs from neighbouring jurisdictions to address the immediate shortage in Victoria.

"I'm talking to chief sheriff and court services staffto make sure courtrooms are adequately staffed," she said.

Sheriffs oversee the accused, handle prisoners and act as security. Without them, there is no security in the courtroom.

With files from CBC's Richard Zussman