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Cory Anderson, 25, of Barrie, entered in-custody pleas April 9 to multiple counts of trafficking in ecstasy and ‘methocrystal,’ and was found guilty as charged. Anderson was arrested along with 37 others after transactions with an undercover OPP detective in the Project Splinter initiative. In Collingwood’s Ontario Court of Justice, federal prosecutor Scott Thomson advised that the project was spearheaded by an officer in the late summer and fall of last year. As a result of intelligence obtained, police conducted surveillance on the defendant and other suspects in the communities of Barrie, Collingwood and Clearview. Thomson said in August 2008, one of the suspects contacted the undercover operative about a proposed exchange of 100 tablets of ‘e’ for $1,750. This was arranged to take place at a department store in Barrie. On Nov. 3 another of the accused – who was affiliated with Anderson – met with the same officer at the Georgian College campus in Barrie. This time, 1,000 ecstasy tablets were exchanged for $1,000 in cash. Again in November the detective spoke to Anderson on the phone, asking about a further deal for 1,000 pills. Twenty pills and $60 changed hands before the officer told the accused "his customers were dissatisfied," and wanted 60 new tablets of the drug for $20. On Dec. 16, Anderson handed over two bags containing 10,000 pills for $20, court heard. That day the OPP Drug Enforcement Unit executed a CDSA search warrant in Barrie, unveiling a small grow-op of 25 marijuana plants with a total weight of nine pounds, finished Thomson. Defence counsel Brian McLellan said that prior to the drug bust his client went to Montreal with a friend, where he learned about a nice house and car (that could be had) with drug money. "He did the 500 pill and 5,000 pill deal without a driver’s licence or bank account. He was a middleman who met with the undercover officer about transfer and receiving," said McLellan. McLellan then proposed a sentence of two years less a day in the case. The federal Crown began his submissions with an overview of ecstasy’s use. "Ecstasy is a very dangerous drug, particularly in the hands of adolescents. It’s a scourge, an epidemic in our society, like pebbles in a pond and the ripples go out to the edge. Marriages get broken, jobs get lost and on and on. Annually $18.4 billion  is lost in Canada through drug abuse, with 732 deaths in a year," he said. In Anderson’s case, the drugs seized weren’t tested for any harmful ingredients other than the usual caffeine or benzene; however, buyers on the street assume they’re getting straight ecstasy, finished Thomson. Mr. Justice James Crawford ordered a pre-sentence report on the first offender, and set a return date of May 13 for a one-hour decision. $1,000 fine In other court news, Kevin Hughes, 37, of Collingwood pleaded guilty April 7 to driving with an excess blood alcohol level. He was fined $1,000 with a one-year licence suspension and given six-months to pay; the related charge of impaired driving was withdrawn. Gun charge Twenty-seven year old Todd Noel pleaded guilty April 7 to careless storage of a rifle. The Wasaga Beach man was granted a six-month conditional discharge with transfer of the weapon to a licenced holder. Shoplifter jailed 165 days Brian Pratten, 23, of Wasaga Beach pleaded guilty from the prisoner’s box Mar. 31, admitting to three thefts, a mischief, and a breach of probation. The accused was sentenced to 165 days behind bars on top of time served. In the Collingwood Ontario Court of Justice, prosecutor Paul Billington read that on Feb. 20 and 22, 2009 staff at the Riverboat Motel in Wasaga Beach caught Pratten on video as he carried a television and other goods "from someone else’s apartment to his own." The defendant then proceeded to destroy the cameras, court heard. On Mar. 19, Pratten was seen by Real Canadian Superstore security as he "selected three club packs of meat and some black socks, which he put in his own socks, putting the meat inside his pants." Billington said. All items were recovered on his person as he tried to leave the store. "Who wants to eat them after they’re put down his pants?" interposed Mr. Justice Roland Harris. Towards the end of March, a theft call came to Huronia West OPP officers, this time from the local Wal-Mart. There, Pratten attempted to remove a cell phone from its package, and "put fish down his pants" before heading to a bus stop. In the course of the investigation a vacuum and toaster were returned, along with the TV from the motel. A photo of items taken from Wal-Mart and put inside his trousers "fill up a bench," concluded the Crown. Pratten will be on probation for 18 months once his time is served, with terms to avoid alcohol and other offenders. In addition, he was ordered to stay out of the victimized stores. Area shoplifter jailed six months A 38-year old Collingwood woman entered in-custody pleas Mar. 31 to multiple counts of the theft under $5,000, plus disobeying court orders. Jennifer Dingwall received six months further jail time to be followed by 18 months on probation. In the Ontario Court of Justice defence counsel Cecile Applegate said her client "accepts the allegations as read" by the court clerk. . All items stolen by the accused were recovered and still saleable the lawyer said. Dingwall is currently on an earlier probation order which expires in October, 2009. She was ordered to stay out of the Wal-Mart and Zehrs store, and "to take counselling, especially for addiction on to oxycontin and stealing." Snow blower caper earns fine Michael A. Hilts pleaded guilty Mar. 31 to counts of theft and disobeying an undertaking, receiving a $500 fine for stealing snow blowers, and a further $300 fine for breaching his curfew. Court heard that sometime overnight on Nov. 21, 2008, the 20-year-old Alliston man targeted garaged snow blowers in his hometown. He and two co-accused then loaded the items onto a pickup, which was later pulled over by the Nottawasaga OPP. Hilts was also found to be on an undertaking at the time. The defendant was put on probation for 12 months with orders to keep a 100-metre distance from his cohorts, and to "not possess anyone else’s snow blowers."