FOR MOTHER-TO-BE, JAIL STINT WAS SOBERING

Out On Bail, Woman Vows To Change Ways

Pregnant and very hungry, Angel Fergus wept tears of joy at the
courthouse yesterday after she was released from jail, vowing to
change her former ways and promising to take care of her unborn baby.

"I want to go eat at a buffet," a crying Ms. Fergus, 22, said as she
was reunited with her fiance, Michael Barkley, 27, and her mother,
Denise Daigle, after spending two weeks in jail on charges of theft,
assault and breach of probation. Ms. Fergus, who is almost seven
months' pregnant, was handed a three-month jail sentence by an
Ontario Court justice last month despite the fact her lawyer and the
Crown had agreed on a conditional sentence of six months under house arrest.

Lawyer James Foord succeeded in having Ms. Fergus released on bail
pending her appeal, ending an ordeal he said probably never should
have happened.

Ms. Fergus' appeal before the Ontario Court of Appeal is expected to
be heard within six months -- possibly past her due date in mid-June.

"I'm so happy that I'm out," said Ms. Fergus, saying she would not
wish the conditions she experienced at the Ottawa-Carleton Regional
Detention Centre on her worst enemy.

She said that aside from regular meals, she was only given extra milk
and fruit while in jail, and although she was visited by a doctor,
she was never examined.

She said she's still puzzled by the judge's decision, especially
considering her pregnancy and that Crown and defence lawyers had
recommended a conditional sentence.

"I guess he (the judge) figured I was doing drugs while I was
pregnant and thought it would be good for me to be in jail to get
cleaned up," she said.

In his ruling, Justice Richard Lajoie pointed out that Ms. Fergus had
smoked marijuana in the first three months of her pregnancy, and that
she had reoffended while on probation.

He also described her as a young woman with a "multitude of problems"
and perhaps it was time to give her a "wake-up call," adding that her
new baby should be her priority.

Among the bail conditions set out in the appeal, Ms. Fergus must keep
the peace, live at her mother's house, abstain from consuming
alcohol, attend weekly meetings of Narcotics Anonymous and report
once a month to Ottawa police.

The two weeks in jail were sobering, she said, adding it's certainly
not a place she wants to visit again.

"I have learned to behave and to never get in trouble again," she
said. "This is the start of me turning my life around.

"I want to be a good mother to my child because I have the support of
my mother and my fiance."

Her mother was overcome with emotion yesterday after waiting several
hours for her daughter's release from jail.

"I'm just happy to see her because she's lost weight, she's pale and
very emotional," said Ms. Daigle.

She said her daughter is sincere about turning her life around and
will now begin to focus on her baby.

Mr. Foord said he was happy with the outcome for his client.

"We're pleased that she will be home with her mom and that she'll be
able to attend her doctor's appointments pending the birth of her
child," he said.

"That's what we set out to do and that's what we achieved."