Pubdate: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 Source: Chatham Daily News, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1627 Author: Aaron Hall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada) DRUGS NOT TOLERATED AT CHATHAM COURTHOUSE People bringing drugs into the Chatham courthouse can expect to be charged. Sgt. Gary Conn of the Chatham-Kent Police Service said individuals found in possession of drugs while entering the Grand Avenue building is a "frequent" occurrence. "If a person is going to be that blatant and attempt to conceal contraband at a courthouse . . . they can expect they will be charged appropriately," Conn said. "What they will do is try and conceal it, usually in cigarette packages or in some other form of a container." Conn said officers stationed at the weapons screening area at the front of the courthouse check visitors entering the building. "The officers that might be working the front will ask people to empty all their pockets," Conn said. "If they happen to see cigarette packages, because of past occurrences, we take a look inside. That's generally where we find these contraband." Conn said specific statistics on the number of occurrences were not available. While attending court on another matter Wednesday, a 19-year-old woman from Merlin was allegedly found in possession of some marijuana cigarettes while being checked at the front security screening area. CKPS said she was charged with possession of a controlled substance and released with a future court date. A 19-year-old Sarnia man pleaded guilty on Nov. 21 for having a joint in his possession on Aug. 1 while attending the courthouse. Jason Montgomery, who represented himself, was handed a $200 fine as a result. Federal prosecutor Tim Mathany said the drugs were found on Montgomery while he passed through the screening area. "Unfortunately we seem to be running into a number of these cases here in Chatham," Mathany told the court. Before issuing Montgomery his sentence, Ontario Court Justice Stephen Fuerth said "it was a very foolish thing for you to have been doing. "This is not going to be tolerated in this courthouse," he said. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake