Pubdate: Tue, 14 Jul 2009 Source: Abbotsford News (CN BC) Copyright: 2009 Abbotsford News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/BkAJKrUD Website: http://www.abbynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1155 JUDGE SLAMS DEALER A provincial court judge gave an unusually stiff sentence to a minor for trafficking "hard" drugs at the skateboard park near the Abbotsford Recreation Centre. The 18-year-old youth pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for the purpose of trafficking after selling drugs to an undercover officer. Judge Kenneth Skilnick noted the offender and his associates chose to deal drugs in the "heart of an area frequented by children and adolescents." He sentenced the young man, who cannot be named, to deferred custody and a supervision order of six months for the offence. Although the young offender did not commit a violent crime and had no criminal record, Skilnick said the court should be a leader for the community in not tolerating this type of drug dealing. "I am satisfied that the trafficking of hard drugs in this community in a location frequented by so many vulnerable youth, ought never be considered to be routine or usual," he wrote. "Rather it is an offence that ought to shock the community." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr