Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2000
Source: Edmonton Sun (CN AB)
Copyright: 2000, Canoe Limited Partnership.
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Author: Tony Blais

DRUG DEALER WAS 'TRYING TO BE POLITE'

Conditional Sentence For Trafficking In Ecstasy

A city man who tried to impress "three lovely ladies" by scoring them some ecstasy at a rave at an after-hours dance club should have learned to just say no.

Especially after learning later the trio of drug-seeking gals were actually undercover cops.

James Cameron Angus, 30, was given a six-month conditional sentence, to be served in the community, and a $50 fine yesterday in provincial court after earlier pleading guilty to trafficking in a controlled substance.

Judge Dan Abbott told Angus he could have gone to jail for 18 months, but was getting a break because he had no previous criminal record and was working.

"I'm not going to tell you to abstain from drugs because drugs are illegal," said Abbott.

"If you choose to use drugs, that's your lookout. But, in my opinion, that would be the stupidest thing in the world you could do."

Angus, who was described by his lawyer as "shaking like a leaf," vowed to stay out of any trouble.

"I'm really sorry, your honour," said Angus. "This is the biggest mistake of my life.

"I was just trying to be polite and help these girls out. I realize now how stupid that was."

Court heard that Angus was at Sublime, an after-hours dance club at 10147 104 St., on Jan. 22 when a female undercover police officer approached him about buying some ecstasy.

Angus got three ecstasy tablets from someone else in the club and sold them to the women for $100, court heard.

Defence lawyer Jake Chadi said Angus is not a drug dealer and has since given up his personal use of ecstasy

"He was just trying to get in the good graces of some lovely ladies," said Chadi, who added that Angus's father has refused to talk to him since his Jan. 22 arrest.

Meanwhile, after several drug buys by the undercover officers on the same night, police raided the club and found 61 ecstasy tablets, three doses of LSD, four grams of pot and five grams of cocaine thrown on the floor by some of the 150 startled patrons, who were between 13 and 25.

Police say the dances known as raves are notorious for drug sales and the use of ecstasy - a drug usually sold in the form of a colourful pill for between $25 and $50 per dose.

Ecstasy is taken by people to heighten their senses. Symptoms include sweating, dehydration, hyperactivity, dilated pupils and excessive chewing.
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