LAWYER DRIVES CLIENT TO DRUG REHAB

A Miramichi defense attorney said she was willing to take matters into
her own hands and drive her drug addicted client to Halifax to receive
treatment.

Jaclyn Gallant told provincial court she has been working for
21-year-old Catherine Rissetto for over a year now, and sees a young
woman in dire need of help for her drug abuse.

"The eight-month wait list in Miramichi is far too long. She will be
here another month before they even consider putting her back on
methadone. In Halifax they can take her right away."

The court heard Rissetto will stay with her grandfather in Halifax
until a bed becomes available at an inpatient facility, tbe addiction
treatment centre at a hospital.

Gallant was told if a bed was not available when she arrived with
Rissetto, they would only have to wait a matter of hours before one
opened up.

On Friday, Rissetto pled guilty to three charges stemming from a call
she herself made to the Miramichi Police Force on Sept. 1. The charges
were threatening a police officer, marijuana possession and breaking a
court-ordered undertaking.

Police reports said she complained her mother was withholding money
from her. When the officers noticed track marks on her arms, they
asked her to leave the premises but she refused several times and
attempting to get back inside.

Upon arresting Rissetto she threatened Cst. Lisa MacFarlane saying,
"Wait until I see you in the street."

Searching her purse, officers found several needles with dried blood
and 2.6 grams of marijuana.

In the cells she made what the court described as a "feeble attempt to
strangle herself" using her sweatshirt and police removed her clothing
until she was taken to court for her first appearance.

During the first proceeding she could continually be heard in the
court holding cells, adjacent to the second floor courtrooms, yelling,
"If I don't get out of jail today I will kill myself."

But during her bail hearing Wednesday, Sept. 3 Rissetto was denied her
release. At that time her family made efforts to send to her to
Halifax to stay with her grandfather, but it was unclear how she would
get there.

"Her mother did not want to drive her, she felt scared she would jump
from the vehicle," said Crown Prosecutor Jean-Guy Savoie during the
bail hearing.

But on Friday Gallant told the court of her offer.

"I'm willing to transport her," said the lawyer. "I will deliver her
straight to her grandfather who is a retired police officer."

Because Rissetto spent a week in custody, and will be headed to
inpatient care, Gallant asked that she be released on probation with
time served.

"You're not going to sell me on that," said Judge Denis Lordon. "She
will say anything to get back on the street."

"It is commendable for you to take on that responsibility," he
continued, but believed Rissetto needed to be under strict conditions
to ensure she followed the rules of rehab.

"I hate to sound skeptical, but people on hard drugs will agree to
anything. We have to make sure she has a good incentive."

Rissetto spoke on her own behalf. "I realize I have a drug problem. If
I don't get help by March I'll lose my child. This isn't a joke anymore."

Lordon sentenced her to a 30 day community sentence on each charge to
be served concurrently. She must reside with her grandfather until she
is admitted to the rehab program.

If she fails to follow the rules of the program she will serve the
rest of her sentence in custody.

"We can lead a horse to water, but if she doesn't drink there will be
severe consequences," said Lordon.