POT-DEALING GUARD GETS HOUSE ARREST

A Hamilton special constable who confessed to dealing a pound or two
of marijuana a week will spend the next six months under house arrest.

Macklin Hoang, 25, pleaded guilty Wednesday to cultivating marijuana,
possession of pot for the purpose of trafficking and possessing the
proceeds of crime.

He was charged after a drug and vice investigation culminated in a
raid on his parents' Crooks Street home on Aug. 9, 2007. At the time,
Hoang was a civilian employee with Hamilton police who worked part
time guarding prisoners at the John Sopinka Courthouse.

Ontario Court Justice Marietta Roberts handed Hoang a one-year
conditional sentence. She ordered him to spend the first six months
confined to his Bold Street apartment and to abide by a 10 p.m. curfew
for the next six months. Hoang must also report to probation officer
for six months after completing his sentence.

The judge ordered $7,500 seized by police, along with two sets of
digital scales and a cellphone, forfeited to the Crown. Roberts warned
Hoang that while under house arrest, he would be in breach of his
sentence if he ventured outside of his apartment to use the laundry
room or collect his mail.

"I consider this almost a breach of public trust," she said. "People
who have the responsibility of serving the public are held to a higher
standard."

His brother, Dennis Mai, 20, whose bedside table contained nine grams
of marijuana, pleaded guilty to simple possession and was granted a
conditional discharge.