JOINT BREAK COSTS $600

HAMPTON - A 19-year-old Rothesay man learned the hard way that in the
eyes of the law, passing a joint constitutes drug trafficking.

Ryan James McDevitt, a former employee of Angelo's Pizza in
Quispamsis, admitted to possessing marijuana outside his place of work
on Jan. 4 and breaching probation at the same time by failing to
refrain from the use of drugs and alcohol.

He was originally charged with trafficking since Rothesay Regional
Police spotted him passing a lit joint to a young woman to have a
drag. The charge was downgraded to simple possession in Hampton
provincial court on Tuesday. Two females at the scene during
McDevitt's break from making pizzas were dealt with through the
alternative measures program.

McDevitt also pleaded guilty to breaching probation on Aug. 31, 2007,
by failing to perform 20 hours of community service. A fourth charge
of failing to appear in court on Jan. 29 was withdrawn.

Before sentencing, Judge Henrik Tonning joked that he gets his pizzas
from the same pizza shop.

Tonning fined McDevitt $200 on each of the three charges, for a total
of $600.