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Vol. 75 · # 6 Wednesday, February 15, 2012 GST Included $1.25 Serving Kendal, Kirby, Leskard, Newcastle, Newtonville, Orono, Starkville and Tyrone since 1937 Convicted trafficker warns "Drugs kill" David Chisling and Curtis got a warm reception from the Woman's Breakfast group at the Orono United Church last week Saturday. Curtis (he didn't want his last name used) gave a "Drugs Kill" message to the ladies at the meeting held on February 4th. "If you do drugs, you will get in trouble," Curtis said. "It will catch up to you, it is not a matter of if, it is only a matter of when." "A year ago, a young woman died at a party because someone brought in drugs," Chisling told the women. "She took the drugs and died," he said. Curtis admitted he brought the drugs into the home and was subsequently charged with "trafficking." He is now speaking out, hoping he can stop others from making the same mistakes he did. In finding him guilty, the judge sentenced Curtis on March 3, 2011 to one year house arrest and 100 hours of speaking engagements under the supervision of David Chisling, who operates the "Been There" project ­ a project focusing on a restorative justice program for young offenders. "The judge told Curtis 100 hours with Chisling is going to be worse than three years in jail," Chisling told the Breakfast Group. "Every time Curtis talks about it he has to relive the event." After the house arrest Curtis will be on probation for two years and 50 more hours with Chisling. Curtis told the gathered women that in August 2010 he was asked to bring drugs to a party at his girlfriend's house in Newcastle, as his contribution. He did not charge for the drugs, which he said was MDMA, a pure form of ecstasy, nor did he receive any money for them. He explained Hockey Day in Canada was celebrated locally by a 4-on-4 hockey tournament at Talsma's backyard rink in Kirby on Saturday. The tournament, which started Friday night, was a fundraiser for a church youth mission trip. that his girlfriend's younger sister, who was 19-years of age at the time, said she wanted to try the drug and she became ill a few hours after taking a small dose. Someone at the party called 911, and the girl, who still had a pulse, was taken to hospital where she died later that night, and Curtis was arrested. When the police wanted to know who had brought the substance to the party, Curtis said he admitted to it. "I have nothing to hide," he told the group. "I knew I did something wrong, and I knew I would have to pay for it," he stated. Chisling said he met Curtis when he was making funeral arrangements with the girl's family. "I was struck with how honest he was," Chisling told the Orono Times. "He didn't run from the truth, he didn't avoid it, he wasn't evasive." Curtis told the Breakfast Group that Chisling invited him to work in the garden with his "Been There" project, alongside the young offenders already in the program. "I tried passing on my lessons to these kids," said Curtis, who is now 24-years old. "I can't stop kids from taking drugs," Curtis said, "but I can share with them that when they do take drugs, they are not only hurting themselves." Chisling explained to the Breakfast Club that after getting to know Curtis, he felt to take Curtis on speaking engagements to schools throughout Clarington and Northumberland, adult groups such as service clubs and neighbourhood gatherings, as part of his sentence. After eight month in the legal system, Cutis says he was sentenced 12 months house arrest. That eight Left to right: Carol Baily, Maralyn Barrabell, of the Orono United Church Ladies Breakfast Club, Curtis and David Chisling, after Curtis spoke to the women about this journey since facing drug trafficking charges. compelled to write a proposal to the Justice Department requesting that he be allowed months of court action cost his family $150,000 ­ money which, according to Curtis, "could have been used for something else other than trying to keep me out of jail." Curtis said the monetary support was the only support he received from his family. He continues to find support in the communities he reaches out to with his speaking engagements with Chisling. "Anybody who has the guts to tell everyone that what they did was wrong, can get the same kind of support I have received," he told the Breakfast Group in Orono. Chisling has not been able to secure any speaking engagements in Clarington schools. According to Gregg Kidd, Manager of Corporate Affairs for the Kawartha Pineridge School Board, they are not encouraging Chisling to visit Clarington schools with Curtis at this time, "Out of respect for the family and friends of the victim and the school community." It is too soon in the process to revisit the incident, Kidd explained and added, this is an arrangement they would make of anyone in their school family.