PRISON GUARD TO SERVE TIME IN COMMUNITY

A prison guard convicted of drug offences won't be going to jail, a
B.C. Supreme Court judge ruled Wednesday.

Instead, Jordan Douglas Woods will be allowed to serve his six-month
sentence in the community.

Woods, 45, pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and
production of marijuana, but not guilty to a charge of possession for
the purpose of trafficking. The Crown agreed to stay the more serious
charge after his guilty plea to the lesser, included offence.

Woods was charged after an investigation by the Kamloops RCMP's drug section.

Federal Crown prosecutor Sandra Besanger told the judge officers
tailed Woods from the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre Jan. 10,
2000, to the home of a known outlaw biker.

Woods went in, came out a bit later and left. Police pulled him over
shortly after on Tranquille Road. In his pocket, officers found a
ziplock bag with about $1,500 of methamphetamine inside. He was
wearing his prison guard uniform at the time.

In his wallet, investigators found a business card identifying him as
"a friend" of the Hub City Men's Club.

Kamloops RCMP have said the club is a motorcycle gang with links to
the Hells Angels.

Later, the drug team searched Woods' Red Lake home. They found a
small hydroponic grow operation with 12 mature marijuana plants worth
about $5,000.

Police also found 13 rifles and a picture of Woods posing with
colour-wearing members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, the court
was told.

Besanger told the judge Woods should serve six months in jail, as he
occupied a position of trust and authority in the community.

But defence lawyer Fred Kaatz said there was no evidence to indicate
Woods was involved in any way with bringing drugs into the prison. As
well, he pleaded guilty to simple possession - not trafficking.

Woods lost his job as a result of the charges and served two weeks in
custody after his arrest, Kaatz told the judge.

"This has cost him dearly," he said.

Kaatz added Woods is not a danger to the community and a three-month
conditional sentence would be an appropriate penalty.

Justice Richard Blair decided a six-month conditional sentence was
sufficient. He noted the Crown did not link the seized drugs to
Woods's employment. Blair also pointed out Woods does not have a
criminal record and has been an active and positive member in his
community.

The terms of Woods's conditional sentence require him to be in his
house except for the purposes of employment, education or
community-based volunteer activities.