Niagara Falls man sentenced to time served for drug possession offences

Defendant found holding oxycodone, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine

A Niagara Falls man who a judge said has “lived a life of persistent criminality” has been released from custody.

“This is the classic record of a drug addict,” Judge Joseph De Filippis said in court Monday after reviewing the criminal record of Frederick Stevens, which includes convictions for property offences and breaching court orders.

“The addict’s craving for the drug outweighs his or her fear of some guy wearing a red sash and waiving a judicial finger,” the judge said.

“I am speaking bluntly, and I hope not disrespectfully, but that’s just the reality of addicts.”

Stevens pleaded guilty in an Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines to several offences including drug possession.

On March 29, court heard that police observed Stevens coming out of an abandoned hotel in downtown Niagara Falls.

Police searched the defendant and discovered two medication canisters in his pocket. The bottles contained crystal methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Less than a week later, a resident on Barker Street called police to report someone had entered their garage.

Stevens was arrested inside the garage. Police searched him and found oxycodone, crystal methamphetamine and crack cocaine.

The defendant had been in custody for 52 days, which is the equivalent of serving a 78-day sentence.

The Crown and defence offered a joint position of time served as penalty.

“If it was left to me the sentence would not be this, it would be greater than that,” the judge noted. “But it’s not a sentence that I would describe as unconscionable so I will agree to it.”