One-day jail sentence for marijuana possession charge

A man who was caught carrying marijuana less than a month before he became the focus of a national manhunt following a shooting in the parking lot of a Niagara Falls strip club has been sentenced to one day behind bars.

Malcolm Edwards, 25, pleaded guilty in Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines on Wednesday to charges of possession of marijuana and failing to comply with a court order.

In January 2016, court was told, Edwards was a passenger in a car stopped by Niagara Regional Police in St. Catharines.

Police seized $330 in cash, two grams of marijuana and four cellphones. A subsequent search of Edwards’ residence revealed a further $950 cash and digital scales.

Court heard Edwards was on probation at the time and had to abide by a number of conditions including that he not purchase, possess or consume any non-medically prescribed drugs.

Judge Ann Watson imposed a jail term of one day on the marijuana and breach charges, giving credit for the time the defendant had spent in pretrial custody.

The sentence will be served concurrently to the sentence Edwards is currently serving for firearms-related offences in connection with a February 2016 incident at Seduction Gentlemen’s Club on Lundy’s Lane. An investigation indicated an individual had fired several rounds at a car that fled the area. There were no injuries.

Police identified Edwards as the suspect and a Canada-wide warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested in Ottawa eight months later and returned to Niagara.