Pubdate: Thu, 20 Jan 2005
Source: Northern Life (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Northern Life
Contact:  http://www.northernlife.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2396
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

FATHER OF 11 GOING TO JAIL FOR SELLING DRUGS

A Minnow Lake father of 11 who described himself as "the oil king" for his 
ability to peddle hash oil was given a 26-month sentence in a federal 
penitentiary Wednesday.

Despite pleading for leniency before sentence was passed, Barrington 
Pitters, 49, was sentenced to the penitentiary term after police raided his 
home and found large quantities of drugs, including a huge stash of 
cannabis resin on Dec. 11, 2002.

If he doesn't get in trouble inside the penitentiary, Pitters will likely 
be eligible for parole within six to nine months.

Police seized containers filled with cannabis resin inside and outside 
Pitters' residence during a raid. One large container of hash oil was found 
inside the bumper of a truck in his driveway.

The total amount of cannabis resin found was just under 1,000 grams or more 
than 35 ounces. Police also found another 16 grams of marijuana and a large 
amount of drug paraphenalia.

Justice William Fitzgerald said anyone who operates a large-scale 
commercial drug operation out of their home can expect no less than a 
penitentiary term.

Court heard Pitters had only two previous criminal convictions, both for 
possession of cannabis, but had graduated to dealing drugs from his home.

Federal Crown prosecutor Robert Topp said, "This time he's managed to hit 
the big time," and told the court Pitters often described himself as "the 
oil king" to people he dealt cannabis resin to.

"This was absolutely commercial trafficking for profit," said Topp. "It was 
also done from home where he was raising his children."

Considering the large amount of drugs seized and the fact Pitters has 
previous drug convictions, Topp has asked Fitzgerald to impose a sentence 
in the range of 30 months.

"The court must send a message to Barrington Pitters and other drug 
traffickers...that you can't come to court with 10,000 reasons why they 
shouldn't go to jail...when you operate a large-scale commercial drug 
operation," said Topp.

"The message must be...that you will be dealt with firmly...the time has 
come for Mr. Pitters and others like him to reap the consequences."

Defence counsel Craig Fleming said Pitters, who emigrated to Canada from 
Jamaica many years ago, is the father of nine children and two stepchildren 
and has always been a loving and respected father.

"He's very close to his kids...they're a very close family," said Fleming.

Since his arrest, Pitters has stayed out of trouble and started his own 
small business doing home repairs and renovations.

If the court is going to send him to jail, a penitentiary term would be 
preferable as there are programs available, said Fleming, who asked the 
court to impose a jail sentence of two years.

Before sentence was passed, Pitters read from a statement and told the 
court "I'm not a violent man and I know I made many mistakes."

Pitters' wife briefly addressed the court and said she knows her husband 
has done wrong, but it will be very difficult for her to raise their 
children alone. If the court must impose a jail sentence, she urged it to 
be as short as possible.

Fitzgerald said under all the circumstances, a conditional sentence was 
"clearly not appropriate" and imposed the 26-month sentence. 
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