BREAKING POLICE CONFIDENCE RESULTS IN 10-MONTH JAIL TERM

COBOURG - A 24-year-old Toronto man whose actions could have
compromised a police investigation pleaded guilty to a number of
charges in a Cobourg court last week.

The accused was charged with breach of the public trust, possession
for the purpose of trafficking, two counts of fail to appear in court,
and fail to comply (with court conditions of release that stated he
must live with his parents).

Federal crown attorney James McGrath told the court the accused was
employed May 13, 2005, by the Ontario Provincial Police in a civilian
position to help monitor and intercept a marijuana grow operation in
Percy Township.

One of the conditions of his employment was that he keep all
information from the project in strict confidence, said the crown.

On Sept. 7, 2005, a series of arrests were made in relation to the
grow op, and on Sept. 8, the project was terminated and the accused
was laid off.

A subsequent police raid in the area of the grow op was made Sept. 29,
said Mr. McGrath, when witnesses saw two males walking in the area,
and another witness reported a grey compact car parked in the
vicinity. The car was rented to the accused.

A few days later in Toronto, the car was found outside an apartment
building, where police searched it and found 600 grams of labelled
marijuana bud and a map quest document for the area of the grow op.

Mr. McGrath said the accused had since provided a letter of apology.

"He took advantage of an opportunity given to him," said the crown.

Defense counsel Bill Lifeso said his client was sincerely remorseful
and provided a number of letters of support for the accused.

Mr. Justice Rhys Morgan noted the accused had been in custody for 58
days, and awarded him four months of time served.

"Your offence undermines the very principles of the administration of
justice," said Justice Morgan. "It attacks the very institution that
protects society.

"I'm sure you signed some kind of oath of secrecy which you breached
in a significant way and you diminished the ability of the police to
do their work."

Justice Morgan noted the accused had no prior record, and also stated
the Court of Appeal recommended first sentences not be longer than
necessary.

Mark Gendron was sentenced to a further six months in jail for the
indictable offences, and time served for the breaches of court orders.
The accused was banned from possessing weapons for 10 years, and also
told to serve a two-year period of probation, to include counselling
for substance abuse.