PRE-TEEN POT PUSHER

A 12-year-old girl caught planning to sell pot at her south Ottawa school
has been placed on two years' probation and ordered to perform 75 hours of
community service.

The girl, who has since turned 13 and can't be identified under the Young
Offenders Act, also faces a curfew of 10 p.m. on weekdays, and 11 p.m. on
weekends after being convicted of possession for the purpose of traficking.

"This is a very serious offence," Justice Alan Sheffield said before
sparing the first-time offender a custodial sentence. "What the court is
doing today is letting you go home with your mother and allowing you to
prove you can be a law-abiding citizen. It doesn't mean that you got away
with anything."

An Ottawa courtroom heard yesterday the girl had 42 grams of marijuana in
her purse when police arrested her on May 21.

Defence lawyer Gerry White said yesterday a 22-year-old man had threatened
his client if she "ratted on him."

"Did she know it was wrong? Probably," White told the Sun after the girl
was sentenced. "But when you're 12 years old, do you make logical
decisions? No. She's just a nice girl who was misled by adults. That's
happening every day."