COKE DEALER WANTS BREAK

Pregnant Woman Hopes To Avoid Jail Term To Raise Baby

THE Crown is trying to put a convicted cocaine dealer in prison just as she
is set to give birth to her second child.

Dawn Anderson, 30, is due any day and desperately wants to remain in the
community to raise her baby, defence lawyer Mike Cook said yesterday.

She pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking and is
seeking a conditional sentence. The Crown asked yesterday for a 30 month
prison term.

Queen's Bench Justice Lea Duval reserved her decision yesterday until July
7, likely giving Anderson time to have the baby while she remains free on bail.

Cook asked for leniency for his client yesterday, citing a troubling family
history which includes the unsolved murder of her brother, Bradley
Anderson, in January 2001.

His bullet-ridden body was found dumped outside the city in a slaying
police suspect may be tied to the Hells Angels. "It's a horrible thing, and
I don't know how one ever recovers from that," said Cook.

Anderson's mother, Donna, is also battling her own legal troubles. The
woman -- nicknamed "Mama Bear" by police -- was arrested last year for
running a drug operation out of a Main Street pool hall.

The provincial government has since taken ownership of the pool hall under
new proceeds of crime legislation.

Dawn Anderson -- known as "Baby Bear" -- was arrested in July 2001 during
an undercover police drug sting. She was found in a black Dodge Neon, along
with her mother and a third occupant.

Police seized eight rocks of crack cocaine inside the vehicle, valued at
about $320. Six were in a bag, one was stuffed in the car door while the
other was found under a floor mat, court was told yesterday.

Anderson has no prior criminal record and is the mother of another young
child, who spent yesterday wailing outside the courtroom while her mother
fought inside to stay out of prison. "This is a very difficult time for the
entire Anderson family," said Cook.

"My client is motivated to work, and motivated to raise her children."

The Crown said Anderson has shown no effort towards rehabilitation and
deserves to be punished for a crime which normally nets federal prison time.

Duval said she wants to study case law, along with the submissions of both
lawyers, before deciding Anderson's fate.