Pubdate: Fri, 16 Nov 2012
Source: Record, The (Kitchener, CN ON)
Copyright: 2012 Metroland Media Group Ltd.
Contact:   http://news.therecord.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/225
Author: Brian Caldwell

FATHER TRIED 'WRONG WAY' TO HELP TEEN WITH DRUG PROBLEM

KITCHENER - A man admitted Friday that he tried to help his teenage 
daughter with a drug problem by giving her marijuana.

"This is the wrong way to do the right thing," said defence lawyer 
Sean Safa. "That's what it is."

The 43-year-old Kitchener man was charged with trafficking for 
allegedly paying the girl to babysit with small amounts of marijuana 
over a period of about two months last year.

But after he pleaded guilty to simple possession of the drug, 
Kitchener court heard a very different version of events.

Safa said the man - who had no prior record - suspected his 
15-year-old daughter of using OxyContin, a powerful prescription painkiller.

After talking to other relatives, he said, the man decided to give 
the girl a marijuana joint so she wouldn't have to buy on the street 
and to try to get her talking about her drug use.

"It wasn't my intention to break the law," the father said. "All I 
wanted to do was communicate with her."

It didn't work.

The next day, the man and the girl argued, got in a physical struggle 
and the police were called.

Justice Colin Westman was sympathetic to the father, especially after 
being told the girl has moved on to crystal methamphetamine in the 
year since the incident.

"It would not have been my plan of attack, but I can understand your 
dilemma," he said of his misguided attempt to help the girl.

A charge of assault with a weapon related to the struggle was 
withdrawn by the prosecution after the man pleaded guilty to 
marijuana possession.

He received an absolute discharge - meaning he won't have a criminal 
record - and was fined $100.

Westman also gave him some advice.

"You better speak to some professionals to learn how to handle it," 
he said of the man's continuing concerns about his daughter.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom