Guy pulls up to a condo on an e-bike. Judge gives him 105 days behind bars

Police caught Lawrence Steinburg buying narcotics during a stakeout last year of a Sault Ste. Marie building where some condo residents suspected an individual was dealing drugs.

The 57-year-old man arrived at the building on an e-bike, where he met up with a woman on June 12, 2018,  Ontario Court Justice Romuald Kwolek heard Monday.

Steinburg gave the woman a roll of a money, which she placed in her underclothing.

She in turn handed him a package, federal prosecutor Ben Pritchard said.

When officers arrested and searched the accused, they found 1.2 grams of cocaine on the ground where he was standing and 1.2 grams of heroin on him.

Steinburg pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and a single count of breach of probation in connection with the incident.

He also was convicted of another drug charge for having a small amount of percocet on Jan. 19 of this year, as well as breaching probation and violating a recognizance order.

Kwolek imposed 105 days jail, which Steinburg will serve consecutive to a sentence he is currently serving until September.

His lawyer Ken Walker told the court the accused is suffering two consequences resulting from his pleas.

An intermittent sentence he is serving for Provincial Offences Act convictions is going to collapse, the defence said.

As well, his client who works during the summer and fall for a marine company, loading and unloading ships "will be forfeiting his employment for the better part of the year," Walker said.

"He reaps what he sows." 

The judge urged Steinburg to get some substance abuse assistance while he's incarcerated.

"You can either benefit from time in custody or waste it," Kwolek told him, noting his lengthy criminal record, which includes eight prior convictions for possession or trafficking charges.

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