Former Hells Angel gets a single day in prison

OFF THE WIRE
By Jennifer Saltman, The Province July 30, 2010 A former Hells Angel and drug addict who has turned his life around was sentenced by a provincial court judge to one day in jail Thursday.

Joseph Calendino, 44, pleaded guilty in November to one count of trafficking crack cocaine.

The crime was committed in April 2008. Calendino sold 0.1 gram of crack to an undercover officer near Surrey Central SkyTrain station. At the time Calendino was a drug addict, selling drugs to feed his habit.

Since then, Calendino told Surrey Provincial Court Judge Paul Dohm, he has hit rock bottom and put his life back together.

"I can't say that I remember much from that time in my life," he said, breaking down in sobs. "I was an addict."

Calendino has taken courses about addiction, is in counselling, has reconnected with his family and said he recognizes the impact his addiction had on himself and society.

As part of his recovery, Calendino said he was encouraged to use his experience to keep youths from following the same path.

He has worked in Surrey schools with the anti-gang Wrap program since about January 2009, and told the judge that he will soon begin work in Vancouver and Chilliwack schools. He has also been featured in a video called Yo Bro, made by Odd Squad, a non-profit society that uses real stories as an educational tool.

In the short video, which Calendino played for the court, he talks about how he was stabbed, shot at, run over, addicted to drugs and a gangster. He was a member of the Hells Angels' Nomads chapter.

When Dohm asked Calendino how he was doing with his addiction, he answered, "I'm the kind of guy where when you close that door, it doesn't open again."

Melanie Walker, agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, asked the judge for a three-month jail sentence. Defence lawyer Evi dos Santos suggested a suspended sentence.

"I think he is the only case I've witnessed who turned his life around," dos Santos said.

Dohm instead sentenced Calendino to one day in jail with one day of credit for time served, so Calendino was not taken into custody.

"You're going out that door to keep on doing good work," Dohm said.

Calendino, who left court with a smile on his face, declined to comment on the sentence. jensaltman@theprovince.com

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