Ex-Norman Wells mayor Nathan Watson, who became a wanted man for more than two months after he failed to appear in court for sentencing on a drug conviction, apologized Tuesday for the SA国际影视传媒渄isrespect,SA国际影视传媒� he showed the courts.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 really no excuse,SA国际影视传媒� said Watson, standing to address Judge Garth Malakoe.

Malakoe issued an arrest warrant for Watson on May 10 after the 49-year-old didnSA国际影视传媒檛 show up to his sentencing hearing. Watson, who served as mayor of Norman Wells from 2015 to 2017, was convicted after trial in January of possessing cocaine. Watson was pulled over by Norman Wells in October 2017 after he failed to stop at a stop sign. Officers located two bags of cocaine in WatsonSA国际影视传媒檚 jacket, each weighing about one-and-a-half grams.

WatsonSA国际影视传媒檚 arrest warrant remained outstanding until July 20 - more than 70 days later - when he was arrested in Norman Wells following a tip from the public.

Watson spent three days in jail before being released.

In court on Aug. 6, he pleaded guilty to a fresh charge of failing to appear, stemming from the May 10 no-show at court.

SA国际影视传媒淗e was required to be before the courts and had many opportunities to do so,SA国际影视传媒� said prosecutor Levi Karpa.

Karpa joined WatsonSA国际影视传媒檚 lawyer Baljindar Rattan in recommending a $2,000 fine for the cocaine conviction and a four-day custodial sentence for failing to appear in court.

With credit for time spent in remand custody - one-and-a-half days for every one day - the sentence amounted to time served for Watson, meaning he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have to serve any more time behind bars.

With only a dated drug possession conviction from 1990 on his record, Watson had never spent time in jail, something Malakoe said would have been a SA国际影视传媒渘ew experienceSA国际影视传媒� that would SA国际影视传媒渃ertainly have a deterrent effect,SA国际影视传媒� on him in the future.

Malakoe gave Watson nine months to pay the fine.

Town lawsuit still looms 

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a giant relief, of course,SA国际影视传媒� Watson told reports outside the Yellowknife courthouse following TuesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 sentencing.

While his criminal charges have been resolved, Watson is named in a lawsuit filed by the Town of Norman Wells.

The lawsuit alleges Catherine Mallon, the former senior administrative officer of Norman Wells, defrauded the town out of $1.2 million, and that Watson - who was mayor at the time -  was involved in the alleged illegal activity.

Watson said the criminal case and the ongoing lawsuit shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be conflated.

SA国际影视传媒淥ne would hope, in a perfect world, they wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have any bearing on each other SA国际影视传媒� theySA国际影视传媒檙e completely separate.SA国际影视传媒�

Watson told Yellowknifer heSA国际影视传媒檚 filed an early response to the lawsuit, but that heSA国际影视传媒檚 still working on submitting a statement of defence.