ECSTASY DEATH LEFT US IN DESPAIR: MOM

Sentencing Hearing For 16-Year-Old. 'Stevie Died As A Result Of Him
Giving Her The Drug'

Ever since police officers roused her family early on Feb. 5, Dawn
Reilly said, their lives "have fallen into despair and hopelessness."

Her 13-year-old daughter, Stevie, had gone into cardiac arrest after
being given the drug ecstasy. She died the next day.

"I want you to know that this has been the hardest time in our
lives," Reilly said at a sentencing hearing yesterday for the
16-year-old Hudson youth who gave her daughter the drug.

The youth has pleaded guilty to several charges, including drug trafficking.

"(Her father) and I haven't slept one night or gone one moment
without Stevie's tragedy in our minds," the wan Reilly told the youth
court in a soft-spoken voice. "Stevie died as a direct result of
(him) giving her the drug."

Even though the teenager was tried in youth court, Reilly said his
crimes were "not childlike behaviours" and should be dealt with as
adult crimes.

A pre-sentencing report prepared by a social worker recommended a
six-month sentence for the youth, whose name cannot be published.

However, crown prosecutor Mylene Gregoire countered that six months
of custody and supervision is clearly insufficient, given the
aggravating factors.

One of them, Gregoire said, is the fact that the youth asked Stevie's
friend not to tell police he had given her the drug.

Gregoire suggested the court impose a longer sentence, without
specifying a precise term.

She noted the maximum the youth could receive for trafficking crimes
was three years, and two years for sexual contact and obstruction of justice.

Stevie started feeling ill after taking ecstasy at the youth's home.
The girl from Rigaud was later taken to a hospital after losing consciousness.

The court heard evidence at the youth's bail hearing that she had
agreed to have sex with him. However, she hadn't reached the age of
consent, which is 14.

The youth had also pleaded guilty to sexually touching a

minor and to inviting a minor

to touch him in a sexual manner. (Yesterday, he pleaded guilty

to stealing a wallet last September.)

Gregoire said it was clear that money was the youth's goal in drug dealing.

"It's obvious that if this illegal act hadn't been committed, Stevie
would be here today," she said.

Gregoire remarked that the youth had cautioned his sister against
taking the drug.

"It's kind of shocking that

he is telling his sister not to do it but he is doing it with other girls."

The prosecutor noted that the report observed the youth has the
potential to be a repeat offender if he does not receive the
necessary help. The report also noted it was observed at a detention
centre that structure was new to the youth and he wasn't used to
limits. The report said he is not physically abusive or violent.

Gregoire produced a photo album to show that the youth's involvement
with drugs is a major part of his life.

One photograph showed a drawing of a cannabis leaf on his door, and
another drawing featured an ecstasy pill.

Defence lawyer Marc Alain agreed with the recommendation of a
six-month sentence.

"The six months means four months of detention and two months of
conditions in (the community)," Alain said outside court.

During the hearing, Alain said the youth quickly acknowledged his
crimes and co-operated with police by providing them with names of
people potentially dangerous to the public.

Alain spoke of the impact on the boy's family - including the fact
that his mother had to quit her job and move from her residence.

Referring to the pre-sentencing report, Alain said the youth
responded well to a routine soon after his arrival at the detention centre.

He also noted that the report observed that the youth has empathy and
feels remorse.

Quebec Court Judge Linda Despots will sentence the youth on May 9.