Women receives 52 days jail term for shooting drugs in school playground

By Medicine Hat News on October 2, 2024.

@MedicineHatNews

A woman caught shooting up drugs in an elementary school playground last month will spend the next 52 days in jail, court determined on Tuesday morning in Medicine Hat.

Her lawyer said at that point she will enter a separately arranged stay at a drug treatment facility.

Crown prosecutors told provincial Court of Justice that police were called to a school ground in south Medicine Hat on Sept. 15.

A member of the public reported that the 32-year-old woman was stooped over on a bench about 20 feet from a play structure and appeared to be injecting drugs with a needle.

Police questioned the women, who gave a false name, and searched her nearby vehicle finding drug paraphanalia. She was arrested for failing to comply to with her court-ordered release conditions and a probation order as well as obstructing a peace officer.

Crown prosecutor Jase Cowan told court that the most-serious factor in the accusation is the location of the drug activity. He supported a joint recommendation with defence attorney Vince Guinan of 60 days.

“This was dangerous,” Cowan told court. “It’s serious and we don’t want this anywhere near children.”

Guinan said his client is the mother of a teenager and works part-time in the construction industry. A space for her in a drug-treatment facility has been arranged.

The woman received 60 days plus an additional 15 days on a separate breach charge. With credit for 15 days already spent in custody, she has 52 days remaining to serve in custody.

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