Canada - Nabbed on gun and drug charges, he's used his time well while in jail
Even though Hells Angels member Diamond Ialenti was caught with a hockey bag full of marijuana and a loaded handgun, he still caught a break.
Ialenti, 32, of London, was charged April 17, 2008, pre-dating changes to the Criminal Code that would have sent him to jail for three years for just one of the three counts he pleaded guilty to Tuesday -- possession of a loaded handgun.
Ialenti also pleaded guilty to breaching a court order and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.
In a joint submission from the Crown and the defence, he was sentenced to 225 days in jail, on top of the 439 he has spent awaiting the disposal of his case. His total sentence, taking in credits given to him for time served, equalled 1,056 days.
And Ialenti, a full-patch member of the Hells Angels, went into custody with hopes of building on educational goals.
Since his arrest, said his lawyer, Damon Hardy, Ialenti has upgraded his Grade 9 education, completing 17 credits. He's only two English credits short of his high school diploma.
Ialenti asked Justice Kelly Gorman to consider sending him to the Maplehurst correctional institution in Milton where he said he can complete his schooling. He wants to attend college once he is released.
Acting Middlesex Crown attorney Mary Potter told Gorman that Ialenti's "serious" charges stemmed from his failure to appear in court last April on an August 2007 assault charge.
On April 17, 2008, the day after a warrant was issued for his arrest, a plainclothes police officer saw Ialenti pull up to a residence on Hudson Street with two passengers.
The officer could detect the smell of fresh marijuana coming from the trunk area. There was an aluminum baseball bat between the console in the front seat.
Ialenti got out of the car, showed his driver's licence and asked to make a call to his lawyer to ask about the warrant.
One of the passengers exited the car and locked the vehicle with the key fob. The officer who first saw Ialenti wanted to start a gun-and-drug investigation and asked that the vehicle be opened.
The passenger refused to pass over the keys and wanted Ialenti's consent. After several demands, the passenger was arrested for obstruction.
Ialenti had a cellphone and $350 in his pocket. As he was taken to a police car he called out to the officer, "You'll be finding something worthwhile under the seat and a bag of weed in the trunk."
Ialenti told the police he was taking responsibility for what was found in the car.
Some marijuana shake -- the inferior part of the plant -- was found in the car.
A red and blue hockey bag was found in the trunk and inside were five bags of marijuana with a street value of $32,000.
Under the driver's seat was an unregistered Colt semi-automatic .45-calibre handgun loaded with four rounds. Nothing was in the chamber.
A knife and $20 were found in the console.
Gorman agreed to recommend the Maplehurst request.
"You certainly made some strides during your time in custody. You should be commended for that," she said.
"Hopefully you will go forward and complete your education."
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