Pubdate: Mon, 23 Jun 2003
Source: Northern Life (CN ON)
Copyright: 2003 Northern Life
Contact:  http://www.northernlife.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2396
Author: Keith Lacey

DRUG DEALER ASKS FOR STIFFER SENTENCE

A brazen street-level drug dealer caught by undercover officers repeatedly 
making deals at a downtown doughnut shop is headed to a federal penitentiary.

An interesting aspect of this case is the Crown wasn't seeking a 
penitentiary term, but Jason Beausoleil, 24, told the court, through 
defence counsel Donald Plaunt, he preferred a penitentiary term to being 
sent to a provincial reformatory.

That's because the federal system is known to offer much better programs 
for substance abuse and anger management, two issues his client wants to 
address so he can lead a more productive life once he's released from 
prison, said Plaunt.

Federal Crown prosecutor Robert Topp told the court that between November 
of last year and May 15 of this year, Beausoleil was caught selling small 
amounts of marijuana out of a downtown coffee shop on five different occasions.

The first four times, Beausoleil sold the drugs to undercover police officers.

During the last incident on May 15, police risked blowing a large-scale 
undercover operation to rid the downtown of low-level dealers because 
Beausoleil's actions were so brazen and in the open, said Topp.

Plaunt said his client's arrest on five counts of trafficking Resulted "in 
a pretty significant wakeup call for him." He knows he can't avoid a long 
jail sentence and he needs to address his own substance abuse problems.

When he told his client the Crown was seeking a jail sentence of less than 
two years, Beausoleil refused and said he's rather do a longer stint in the 
federal system where he can access counseling for anger management and 
substance abuse, said Plaunt.

"There are no programs in the provincial system=85he's tried to access 
programs and he's not been successful" since his arrest six weeks ago, he said.

The penitentiary term and counseling will allow Beausoleil to get some help 
and change his lifestyle so he won't return to selling drugs illicitly once 
he's released, said Plaunt.

Before Justice William Fitzgerald agreed to the two-year penitentiary term, 
Beausoleil told the court he wants to change his life around while in prison.

"I may not like the penitentiary much, but if it puts me on the right 
track, then it's what I must do," he said. "I thank you for your time."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart