Pubdate: Thu, 20 Mar 2008 Source: Telegraph-Journal (Saint John, CN NK) Copyright: 2008 Brunswick News Inc. Contact: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/onsite.php?page=contact Website: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2878 JOINT BREAK COSTS $600 HAMPTON - A 19-year-old Rothesay man learned the hard way that in the eyes of the law, passing a joint constitutes drug trafficking. Ryan James McDevitt, a former employee of Angelo's Pizza in Quispamsis, admitted to possessing marijuana outside his place of work on Jan. 4 and breaching probation at the same time by failing to refrain from the use of drugs and alcohol. He was originally charged with trafficking since Rothesay Regional Police spotted him passing a lit joint to a young woman to have a drag. The charge was downgraded to simple possession in Hampton provincial court on Tuesday. Two females at the scene during McDevitt's break from making pizzas were dealt with through the alternative measures program. McDevitt also pleaded guilty to breaching probation on Aug. 31, 2007, by failing to perform 20 hours of community service. A fourth charge of failing to appear in court on Jan. 29 was withdrawn. Before sentencing, Judge Henrik Tonning joked that he gets his pizzas from the same pizza shop. Tonning fined McDevitt $200 on each of the three charges, for a total of $600. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek