JUSTICE officials now have one more reason to kick Alan James-Decker out of Canada.
The African refugee was convicted Thursday of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, just weeks after he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for leading police on a high-speed midday chase in August, 2006 that ended with a violent crash.
The criminal convictions mean certain deportation, according to his lawyer.
James-Decker, 20, bolted when he spotted a cruiser car in downtown Winnipeg, narrowly missed hitting a woman and baby stroller in a crosswalk and sideswiped several vehicles before smashing his SUV into an apartment block.
Three female passengers were screaming at James-Decker to stop, including a 16-year-old girl who was knocked unconscious from the impact and suffered several broken ribs. James-Decker tried to flee the wreckage but was run down by police moments later. He was not seriously injured.
Police say James-Decker threw several bags of crack cocaine containing 31 rocks in a yard during the chase. He was also caught with 10 rocks hidden inside his boxer shorts.
'Rational inference'
Queen's Bench Justice Karen Simonsen rejected James-Decker's claims the drugs didn't belong to him in finding him guilty as charged. A pre-sentence report has now been ordered.
"No other rational inference can be drawn," said Simonsen.
At his sentencing last month, James-Decker apologized for his dangerous driving and blamed his crimes on being "young". He also spoke of his regret in passing up a golden opportunity in Canada and now having to return to Africa.
"This isn't the life I wanted to lead. We came to this country for a better life. If we wanted to ruin our own lives we would have stayed in Africa," he said.
James-Decker won't be deported until he is finished serving his sentences.
He is the third Winnipeg immigrant to face deportation this year based on criminal activity.
Hussein Jilaow, a member of the Mad Cowz street gang, was kicked out of Canada and returned to his native Somalia in May after racking up 13 convictions since 1999.
Another Mad Cowz member, Yassim Ibrahim, is also on a deportation order to Somalia following a series of recent convictions for violence.
His stay in Canada will be extended because he still has one charge pending -- an allegation he took out another man's eyeball during a 2005 brawl inside Headingley Jail. The case is set for trial this fall.
www.mikeoncrime.com
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