Probation for teen caught with drugs and knives

A promising high school athlete who fell asleep behind the wheel of the car he was stealing from has been placed on probation for two years and ordered not to consume any drugs that are not prescribed by a physician.

The Welland youth, who was 17 when the offences were committed and can’t be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Ontario Court of Justice in Welland to several charges including possession of cocaine and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

Defence lawyer Jeff Root told the judge his client, who had no criminal record, had the talent to become an elite athlete before he became involved in drug culture.

“He basically turned his bright future into a disaster,” Root said. “He was throwing it all away.”

On May 25, 2017, at about 7 a.m., court was told, a Welland man went to his car parked in his driveway on Commercial Street and discovered the teen sleeping inside. The young man was dressed all in black and wearing a balaclava. A 13-inch knife was sticking out of his pocket.

When police searched him, court heard, he was also carrying a stiletto-style knife as well as 100 grams of cocaine, some marijuana and a woman’s wallet.

On the same day as his arrest, court was told, Niagara police were called to another Welland residence in regards to a theft from a vehicle which had occurred the previous day. In that case, someone had entered two vehicles in the driveway and made off with a variety of items including the woman’s wallet.

The youth was released from custody pending trial but was arrested again in June after police were called to a residential neighbourhood after receiving a report of two young men attempting to enter parked vehicles.

Root told Judge Tory Colvin the teen has the ability to play Canadian Interuniversity Sport football if he “stays away from the drug subculture that almost ruined his life.”