A pregnant drug dealer jailed for four months curtailed court proceedings to give birth at liberty before being sentenced to a long prison term.
• Also read: A baby won’t get you out of jail
Marjorie Briand recently pleaded guilty to serious charges of drug trafficking and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
She was arrested last August in the dismantling of a criminal crack and cocaine smuggling network. The organization she joined was called Run 132 and operated on Montreal’s south shore.
Police found more than $24,000 at her home, 19 grams of crack, nearly 10 grams of cocaine and small pink Ziploc bags in which the drugs were sold.
It was she who was in contact with the dealers and recovered the money. She was also one of the “managers” of the cache where the police seized a large amount of drugs, various items useful for trade, and two long guns.
Marjorie Briand was initially charged with possession of these weapons. But the investigation eventually concluded it was not linked to that offence, Crown Prosecutor Me Vincent Huet recently confirmed at the Longueuil courthouse.
Justice gives him respite
The 27-year-old woman had been detained since her arrest. Two months pregnant at the time, she had failed to persuade the court to release her for the remainder of the trial as there were no guarantees she would not re-offend.
But more than halfway through her pregnancy, Marjorie Briand was finally able to be released from prison a few days before Christmas while she awaited her sentence. The judiciary also offered her a reprieve, postponing the sentencing hearings so that she could give birth and even enjoy her baby for a few months. Delivery is expected in April.
“The pregnancy progresses, the conditions of detention are never easy. We are therefore aware of the difficulties she may face in prison,” Me Huet admitted, adding that the inmate was struggling to receive medical follow-up care.
She also presented a more credible exit plan, he acknowledged.
“She has a legal job, she will be giving birth soon, her parents are more aware of the situation and she admits her guilt. This is an element that reassures the Crown on the risk of recidivism,” he said.
long sentence
But her maternity leave is set to take a very special turn, as detention is inevitable.
“She’s going to have to face the music at some point,” said Vincent Huet. The public prosecutor intends to demand a long prison sentence.
“She is very aware of this,” added the defendant’s attorney, Dimitri Raymond. It gives the lady time to enjoy the first few months with the baby, so there is some contact with the child after the birth.
The verdict will be announced at the end of the summer. Until then, the mother-to-be must respect various conditions, including a curfew.