Benoit Morin, 29, of Drummondville, Quebec might be more careful about his directions next time he travels the Trans Canada Highway. On June 29, 2010, he and a female friend unknowingly went the wrong way off the Trans Canada Highway and ended up crossing the U.S.-Canadian border at Pigeon River. That wouldn’t have been so bad had he not been in possession of about 70 grams of marijuana.
Morin spent the next eight days or so in jail, during which time he came to an agreement with the Cook County Attorney’s Office to plead guilty to fifth degree felony possession of a controlled substance. Three other charges were dropped.
Through a French-speaking interpreter in the courtroom at the Cook County courthouse on July 7, Judge Kenneth Sandvik granted Morin a stay of adjudication for two years under the condition that he pay a $1,500 fine and a $90 surcharge. He must be convicted of no other drug offenses in Minnesota during that time.
Assistant County Attorney Molly Hicken stated that typically, they recommend a chemical dependency evaluation in a case like this, but she was willing to go with the recommendation of Morin’s attorney, John Lind. Lind was agreeable to the evaluation being part of the sentencing order and asked that Morin be allowed to get it done in Canada. Lind would then send the results to the Cook County Attorney’s Office. Thiswas acceptable to the court.
Hicken said she learned from U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement that Morin had no prior drug charges. “He was also cooperative and forthright in the investigation,” she said. Morin acknowledged that he was in possession of the marijuana and that he knew it was illegal. No charges were made against the woman who had been traveling with him.
“I think the disposition is reasonable,” said Judge Sandvik. By paying a fine and following the conditions for the stay of adjudication, Morin can keep this charge off his record, which the judge believed was “appropriate.”
Judge Sandvik said this court gets about three or four cases a year in which a Canadian citizen who is not trying to smuggle drugs crosses the border and is caught in possession of one or more controlled substances.
Attorney Lind asked for the interpreter’s help in dealing with Morin’s credit card company so that the fine could be paid and Morrin could be released. After the fine was paid, Morin would be released from custody and given back his car so he could drive back into Canada.
Judge Sandvik told Morin that he might have difficulty entering the U.S. again but that the court had no influence over that.
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