Pubdate: Fri, 06 Apr 2007
Source: Sudbury Star (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 The Sudbury Star
Contact:  http://www.thesudburystar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/608
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

KEEP GUNS, DRUGS OUT OF TOWN: JUDGE

People who come to Sudbury from Toronto with a loaded handgun and 
drugs to deal ought to know they will be caught and jailed for a long 
time, a Sudbury judge told two Toronto men who came to Sudbury last 
June with a loaded handgun and drugs to sell.

Dane Charles Roberts, 20, was sent to prison for 33 months, while 
Barry Thomas, 23, was given a 22-month term Thursday.

The two pleaded guilty before Superior Court Justice Robert Del Frate 
to possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Roberts also 
pleaded guilty to possession of a Walther P38 nine-millimetre pistol, 
possession of a weapon while prohibited from possessing weapons and 
breaching a court order.

The two were involved in selling cocaine to an undercover police 
officer on June 6 and June 7 last year. The first sale was for 25.2 
grams of crack cocaine for $1,600. The second sale was for two ounces 
for $3,300.

A week later, they were passengers in a taxi pulled over by Greater 
Sudbury Police in the Bloor and College streets area of the city.

As Roberts got out of the taxi, police noticed the handgun in a 
partially open knapsack he was carrying. There were nine live rounds 
in the weapon's magazine, although the chamber itself was empty, said 
federal drug prosecutor Richard Hunneault.

Also found were about 386 grams of crack cocaine worth an estimated 
$38,600 on the street, more than $2,000 in cash, as well as scales.

Roberts' lawyer, Bob Beckett, told the court his client carried the 
handgun for protection after suffering life-threatening injuries from 
a stab wound when he was 18.

The gun was intended as a deterrent, he said.

Both Roberts and Thomas have been held in Sudbury Jail since their 
arrest last June. In September, Roberts was attacked by other inmates 
and required medical treatment that included 65 stitches, said 
Beckett. Roberts - who like Thomas is black - was unwelcome in many 
parts of the jail and was not able to attend academic upgrading for a 
time because other inmates refused to be with him, said Beckett.

"On at least three occasions he had to defend himself," in the jail, 
said Beckett.

"It seems to me," said Hunneault, Roberts "made a conscious decision 
to embark on a lifestyle which can do no good."

He was attracted by the lure of quick cash, but "that lifestyle 
catches up to everyone some time."

"Very few things affect the security of a community more than the 
introduction of handguns on the street," said provincial prosecutor 
Marc Hunneault.

Handguns "have become an issue in this community. I don't really care 
whether the gun was ever intended to be pointed or fired, they serve 
no useful purpose."

Their availability in a confrontation can only lead to disaster, he said.

"We cannot let this community live through the insecurity" that other 
communities are having to deal with.

Thomas had no previous criminal record before Thursday's court 
hearing, said lawyer Alex Toffoli, and had been employed as a 
supervisor at a Toronto-area call centre.

The day of his arrest, Thomas' common-law wife gave birth to the 
couple's first child.

The judge said he was impressed by the level of family support 
apparent for the two men, and of their apparent intelligence, "and 
yet here we are."

The potential danger created by the presence of the loaded handgun 
was tremendous, he said. "I could just see a police officer or 
yourself .. it's a good thing neither overreacted in that situation. 
We are all thankful no serious injury or harm resulted from that 
occurrence that day," he said.

There was definitely a need for deterrence in this case, said the 
judge. People need to know, "if they want to come to Sudbury and they 
have a gun and they want to sell drugs, they are going to get caught 
and you're going to jail for a long time."
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