CELLPHONE NOT USED FOR DOPE DEALS, COURT TOLD

A teenaged Mad Cowz street gang member will spend another week locked
up at the Manitoba Youth Centre for an offence that may have more to
do with being an eager employee than a dial-a-dealer dope pusher.

The 17-year-old male is being held because he was caught by city
police with a cellphone -- a violation of his release on earlier drug
charges.

The boy was arrested Aug. 10 as he sat on a bench in downtown Central
Park. The earliest he'll get a chance at release is Sept. 6, his next
court date.

The boy wanted to plead guilty to possession of the phone Wednesday in
youth court so he could put the matter behind him and go back to work
at a doughnut shop in south Winnipeg.

Court was told the boy was prohibited from having a cellphone in
connection to an earlier arrest for drug dealing.

The teen's lawyer, Giselle Champagne, told court her client only had
the phone to keep in contact with his boss at the doughnut shop who
was to call him about working extra shifts.

"He wasn't trafficking," Champagne told provincial court Judge Rocky
Pollack. "He didn't move. He didn't throw anything on the ground."

Champagne said the teen is trying to turn his life around since first
being caught two years ago selling marijuana. He's moved back home
with his parents and will start Grade 10 in a few days.

However, the teen's attempt to plead out didn't go over well with the
judge as the Crown hasn't had time to prepare its case.

Champagne and the Crown also couldn't agree on how the teen's criminal
record should be presented to the judge.

Pollack gave both sides another week to solve the issues.

At that time, another judge will decide the case.