EX-FIRE CHIEF GUILTY IN DRUG CASE

Gets Year Of Probation For Having Marijuana

Paul Bitten, former fire chief of Asphodel-Norwood Township, pleaded
guilty yesterday in Ontario Court of Justice to possession of marijuana.

An additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was
withdrawn by federal prosecutor Chris Corkery.

Bitten will receive a conditional discharge provided he follows the
conditions of his year-long probation. He was ordered to make a $300
donation to the Norwood branch of the Champions for Youth program.

Corkery said police arrived at Bitten's Helen Street home in Norwood
with a search warrant June 21, looking for evidence of a marijuana
growing operation.

Police found a bong sitting on a living room table, another bong
beside the couch in the family room, and scales, seeds, pictures of
marijuana leaves, loose crack cocaine, a homemade crack pipe,
topsoil, a how-to manual on growing marijuana and three more bongs
throughout the upstairs of the house, court heard.

In the basement, more topsoil was found and six grams of marijuana
shake littered the floor, Corkery said.

As police searched the home, Bitten said he knew nothing about drugs
in the house, court heard.

Later Bitten admitted to police he knew about the marijuana, but not
about the crack cocaine.

"He stated he had tried to grow some marijuana plants in the past,
but they died on him," Corkery said.

Police found loose soil in the back of a car parked on Bitten's
driveway, Corkery said, leading them to believe marijuana plants were
grown and moved to another location.

When police asked Bitten about those plants, court heard, he nodded.

Bitten's common-law partner Nancy Pamela White told police the plants
in question were only 15 clones, Corkery said.

The plants have not been located.

"If police had found those plants this would be a cultivation
charge," Corkery said.

Corkery described the amount of marijuana seized as "small" but said
the amount of growing and smoking materials scattered around the home
was an aggravating factor.

Given the personal consequences Bitten has suffered because of the
charges, Corkery said, he was not opposed to a conditional discharge.

Bitten's lawyer Dave McFadden said Bitten has suffered embarrassment
as a result of the charges.

He resigned his post after 28 years with the fire department,
McFadden said, and will likely relocate to another part of the country.

"He's going to be starting over again at the age of 46," McFadden said.

Bitten declined to speak to court.

He was ordered not to possess or consume any non-medically prescribed drugs.

Mr. Justice Robert Graydon warned Bitten if he breaks his conditions
he'll lose his conditional discharge and be charged with breach of probation.