Tag Archive for: Donna Pledge Toronto Lawyer

charged with possesion and trafficking donna pledge criminal lawyer toronto

Recent Success – Charged with Trafficking and Possession of Methamphetamines (May 2019)

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My client was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamines and Possession for the purposes of Trafficking in Methamphetamines. Both charges were discharged.

The Scenario

My client was charged with Trafficking in Methamphetamine and Possession for the purposes of Trafficking in Methamphetamine as a result of surveillance by the police over a period of approximately one month. It was alleged that my client trafficked 82 grams of Methamphetamine, and as a result was arrested along with another individual. Subsequently, the police obtained two search warrants to search two residences, associated with my client.

During the search of one of the residences, several items with my clients name on it were found. Located in the other residence was 81 grams of Methamphetamine in a woman’s size 8 Michael Kors boot. The Crown further tried to establish that because my client and another individual picked up a third individual, who later was found to have 82 grams of Methamphetamine in his possession, and drove around the block and then dropped him back off, that they sold him the drug. As a result, the police arrested my client along with another individual for the charges as described above.

Our Process

At the Preliminary Inquiry, the police were called and provided evidence with respect to the surveillance they had conducted on my client and the items recovered as a result of the search warrants. On that basis, the crown argued that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial. I argued that the evidence was not sufficient to get over the threshold of the Preliminary Inquiry and the court agreed and the charges were discharged.

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge 

It is important to have a lawyer representing you – who at every opportunity will argue to have the charges thrown out. One need not wait for trial. I, Donna Pledge, am one such lawyer.

Call 416-630-8702 or click here to email. 

Donna V. Pledge, Barrister & Solicitor 

Donna V Pledge, is a highly experienced criminal lawyer in Toronto with over twenty-five years of experience in the area of criminal offences. She has been successfully defending clients since 1992. She has earned the reputation of a tough and no-nonsense lawyer who can get her clients out of any criminal case with either a full acquittal or a very light sentence. Donna Pledge represents her clients in courts all over Ontario. 

driving under the influence of alcohol donna pledge criminal lawyer

Recent Success – Charged for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (April 2019)

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The Scenario

My client was charged with driving with over 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood. He was arrested prior to the new drinking and driving laws – which came into effect in December 2018. At trial, as a result of my argument that the new laws applied even though they were not in effect when the client was charged, his charge was dismissed.

My client was stopped by the police for speeding and as a result, the Police Officer suspected that he had consumed alcohol and had him provide a breath sample. He failed the road side breath test, and as a result was arrested and brought to the station to provide a breath sample into an approved breath instrument. He provided the breath samples into the approved breath instrument.

However, the first sample he provided was in excess of two hours after he was stopped by the police. Therefore, the crown had to retain an expert toxicologist to read back his readings to the time the Police Officer had stopped him.

Our Process

The trial was scheduled subsequent to the new drinking and driving laws that came into effect in December 2018. The crown called the arresting officer and a civilian witness to testify. The crown also relied upon the opinion of an expert toxicologist. I argued that the new laws applied to this case, which would mean that the crown would have to establish certain facts about the intoxilyzer used in this case. The crown argued that the new laws were not retrospective and that the old law applied. The judge found that the new laws applied and as a result, the crown failed to prove all the necessary facts in relation to the intoxilyzer used. Therefore, the charge was dismissed.

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge 

It is important to hire a lawyer who is familiar with the laws pertaining to the charge for which you were arrested. I, Donna Pledge, am one such lawyer that will always be best prepared for any case and to give my clients the best chance of winning.

Call 416-630-8702 or click here to email. 

Donna V. Pledge, Barrister & Solicitor 

Donna V Pledge, is a highly experienced criminal lawyer in Toronto with over twenty-five years of experience in the area of criminal offences. She has been successfully defending clients since 1992. She has earned the reputation of a tough and no-nonsense lawyer who can get her clients out of any criminal case with either a full acquittal or a very light sentence. Donna Pledge represents her clients in courts all over Ontario. 

Recent Success Possession of Marijuana - Donna V Pledge Criminal Lawyer - York Region

Recent Success – Charged with Possession of Marijuana (January 2019)

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My client was charged with Possession for the Purposes of Trafficking Marijuana, involving over 70 pounds of marijuana. The charge was withdrawn as a result of filing several Charter applications to establish that the search warrant executed on my client’s residence and vehicle was unlawful.  

The Scenario 

My client was charged as a result of a police investigation where there was surveillance of my client and two other individuals over a period of a few months. During that surveillance, my client was alleged to have been seen travelling from one address to another and removing bags alleged to contain marijuana. The police obtained a search warrant which was executed on my client’s residence and on his vehicle. As the result of the search, several bags were found in the trunk of my client’s vehicle containing over 70 pounds of marijuana.  

Our Process 

I brought an application to declare the search warrant unlawful and request an order excluding all the marijuana found as a result of that search warrant. During the cross examination of the affiant of the search warrant, it became apparent that there were several inconsistencies, misstatements, and inaccurate facts, in the information contained in the search warrant. The exposure of all these problems contained in the search warrant reflected on all the police witnesses and their evidence. As a result, the crown for the prosecution determined that there was no reasonable prospect of conviction and withdrew the charge.  

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge 

When reviewing any case one must be cognizant of the fact that although on paper, the crown’s case may appear to be very strong, in practice it is very possible to have it dismissed or withdrawn. Even the strongest cases – when tested through cross examination of the witnesses (including police witnesses), expose significant problems with the crown’s case and as a result it may be dismissed or withdrawn. When choosing a lawyer, it is important to choose one that is willing and able to review the case in more depth than just reading the disclosure provided – as this may be the difference between winning the case and losing.  

Donna Pledge is one such lawyer that can win a losing case.  

Call 416-630-8702 or click here to email. 

Donna V. Pledge, Barrister & Solicitor 

Donna V Pledge, is a highly experienced criminal lawyer in Toronto with over twenty-five years of experience in the area of criminal offences. She has been successfully defending clients since 1992. She has earned the reputation of a tough and no-nonsense lawyer who can get her clients out of any criminal case with either a full acquittal or a very light sentence. Donna Pledge represents her clients in courts all over Ontario. 

Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample - Donna V Pledge Toronto Criminal Lawyer

Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample into an Approved Screening Device

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RV T.H.H (May 2018)

The Issue

My client was charged with: Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample into an approved Screening Device. I successfully obtained a finding of not guilty after effectively cross-examining the only Crown witness, the arresting officer. I brought to light that the officer failed to fully explain how to provide a sample. And he failed to check the mouthpiece for any obstructions. As a result, the Judge found that my client was not guilty.

The Offence

Failing or refusing to provide a breath sample into an approved screening device pursuant to S.254(2) (b) of the Criminal Code of Canada, is an offence, whether you verbally refuse to provide a sample, or you fail to provide one by ineffectively blowing into the mouthpiece without a lawful excuse. Upon conviction, a person would face a criminal record. And upon a first conviction, with no extraordinary circumstances such as accident, personal injuries etc …, usually a fine and a period of driving prohibition occur.

Further to the foregoing consequences, a person in Ontario also faces, having to complete the On Track Program and the installation of an interlock device on their vehicle (a device where the driver must provide a sample of their alcohol-free breath at random times, for the vehicle to remain operative). A person’s vehicle insurance will also increase, sometimes to the point of being prohibitive.

The Right Lawyer to Defend Your Case

In this case, my client had initially retained other counsel, who, based on the disclosure provided, advised my client to plea guilty. While in certain cases, it is impossible to give a probability of winning or losing, in some, as in this case, my client had nothing to lose by going to trial and everything to gain. The resolution before trial would have been the same if she lost after trial. There were no incentives to plead guilty. A good Trial lawyer is able to make the distinction between a case that should go to Trial, and one that should not. If you want a good trial lawyer call Donna Pledge. A criminal defense lawyer that has been practicing for over twenty-six years.

Call 416-630-8702 or click here to email

Donna V. Pledge, Barrister & Solicitor

Donna V Pledge, is a highly experienced criminal lawyer in Toronto with over twenty-five years of experience in the area of criminal offences. She has been successfully defending clients since 1992. She has earned the reputation of a tough and no-nonsense lawyer who can get her clients out of any criminal case with either a full acquittal or a very light sentence. Donna Pledge represents her clients in courts all over Ontario.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R v T.P – Charged with DUI Impaired Driving

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My client was charged with (DUI Impaired Driving and Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. On the day of trial only one of two officers attended and the crown requested an adjournment. I did not agree and the Judge refused to grant the adjournment which resulted in both charges being dismissed and my client was found not guilty of both charges.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

S.A.- Charged with Driving Under the Influence

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S.A.- Client was charged with Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. An unreasonable search and seizure application was filed on the basis that the demand that the officer read the client was unlawful, and as a result the crown withdrew the charge in advance of the trial.

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence please reach out for your free consultation here.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R v Y.Y.K. – Charged with Impaired Driving

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My client was charged with(DUI)  Impaired Driving and Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The matter proceeded to trial, whereupon I argued that there were insufficient indicia of impairment to prove the Impaired Driving and further argued that the Crown would be unable to prove the Certificate in relation to the Over 80. As a result both charges were dismissed and my client was found not guilty of both charges.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

M.D.- Charged with Driving Under the Influence

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M.D.- Client was charged with Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The matter went to trial. Successfully argued that the Officer read the right to counsel warning incorrectly and as such the Judge found that the client’s charter right to counsel was breached and the charge was dismissed.

If you’ve been charged with impaired driving please reach out for your free consultation here.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

S.A.- Charged with Driving Under the Influence.

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S.A.- Client was charged with Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. An unreasonable search and seizure application was filed on the basis that the demand that the officer read the client was unlawful, and as a result the crown withdrew the charge in advance of the trial.

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence please reach out for your free consultation here.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

M.D.- Charged with Driving Under the Influence

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Client was charged with Driving with Over 80mgs of alcohol in 100mls of blood. The matter went to trial. Successfully argued that the Officer read the right to counsel warning incorrectly and as such the Judge found that the client’s charter right to counsel was breached and the charge was dismissed.

If you’ve been charged with impaired driving please reach out for your free consultation here.