Tag Archive for: Donna V. Pledge Lawyer Toronto

arrested for marijuana

Recent Success: Charged for Trafficking and Possession of Marijuana

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Allegations

My client was charged with Trafficking Marijuana and Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking in Marijuana. Both charges were dismissed at trial.

My client was arrested as a result of a search warrant that was executed at their residence. The police seized a large quantity of dried marijuana. The search warrant was obtained as a result of surveillance by the police of several individuals including my client over a 2-month period.

Trial Proceedings and Results

At trial, I brought several charter applications including an application to have the search warrant quashed. As a result, the matter was thrown out during the foregoing application. Some of the dynamic that went into winning this trial involved cross examining the officer who wrote up the search warrant on inconsistent statements. These statements were made to and from other officers and the Crown.

The lawyer you choose to represent you has to be able to cross examine the officers with respect to the statements they made to the assigned Crown, even if that may be placing the Crown in a precarious position. Donna Pledge has done such cross-examinations many times and is willing to do it again.

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge

Donna Pledge is a criminal defence lawyer who always does the very best for her clients. If you are charged with any criminal offence, Donna Pledge will go above and beyond for you.

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.

 

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. 

recent success donna pledge charged with driving under the influence

Recent Success – Charged with Impaired Driving (March 2019)

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My client was charged with Over 80 mgs of Alcohol in 100 mls of Blood and Impaired Driving Care or control. After a trial both charges were dismissed.

The Scenario

My client was located by the police in an individual’s home after the individual had found her sitting in her vehicle outside of his residence. This individual woke up one morning to my client’s vehicle parked outside of his residence and became concerned because my client – who was sitting in the driver seat – appeared to be asleep or passed out. Other passerbys also noticed my client asleep or passed out in her vehicle and stopped to see if she was ok. Then, the owner of the residence my client was parked in front of, came outside and asked her to come into his house.

In the interim, my client had phoned her mother and a work colleague indicating where she was located and told them that she could not drive. Both her work colleague and my client’s mother attended the residence to find my client passed out on the couch. They became concerned because they had difficulty waking her and called EMS. Upon EMS arriving the police also arrived and after speaking with the owner of the residence, my client was arrested for Impaired Driving and Driving with Over 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 mls of blood care or control.

Our Process

My client initially retained other counsel. My client attended my office to seek a second opinion because her then counsel wanted her to plead guilty. It was her then counsel’s opinion that she would not win at trial and in order to seek a more lenient sentence she would have to plead guilty. After speaking with my client it was my opinion that in fact at the point in time when the offence is alleged to have been committed, my client was not in care or control of her motor vehicle and had in fact put into place a plan to ensure that she would not drive. We proceeded to trial and after trial both charges were dismissed for the foregoing reason.

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge

It is important sometime to seek a second opinion from a lawyer with respect to your case. As in my client’s case a second opinion proved to be not only invaluable but was the deciding factor between my client getting a criminal record and losing her driver’s license and not. I, Donna Pledge, provide second opinions on a regular basis.

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. 

charged for dui donna pledge criminal lawyer

Recent Success – Charged for Impaired Driving and Refusal to Provide a Breath Sample (December 2018)

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The Scenario

My client was arrested for impaired driving and refusal to provide a breath sample. The matter proceeded to trial, and both charges were ultimately dismissed. The charge of refusal to provide a breath sample was dismissed at the request of the Crown because I brought a section 7 charter application which argued that as a result of abuse by the police officer, the charges should be dismissed. The impaired driving charge was dismissed after trial because there was not sufficient evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that my client’s driving was impaired by alcohol.

My client and two friends of his went out to a few bars on the night in question. My client had only consumed a few beers because he was the designated driver. On the way home they decided to attend the local McDonald’s drive-through for some food. One of the employees at McDonalds, believing that my client had been drinking, called the police. Two police vehicles arrived, and my client was asked to exit his vehicle and was arrested for impaired driving. As my client was being escorted to the police vehicle, he questioned why he was being arrested and in so doing one of the police officers became upset. Then, the police officer intentionally or unintentionally hit my client’s head on the side of the police vehicle and as a result – my client blacked out.

My client’s next recollection is when he arrives at his friend’s place the next morning. We come to learn, through disclosure, that in the interim my client refused to provide a breath sample at the police station and was charged with refusing to provide a breath sample.

Our Process

At trial I argued that as a result of the abuse inflicted by the police officer, my client did not have the intention to refuse to provide a breath sample. I also argued that the actions of the police officer in hitting my client’s head against the police vehicle was an abuse of process and as such, both charges should be dismissed. At trial, with respect to the charge of failure to provide a breath sample, the crown decided to invite the Judge to dismiss that charge.

After trial – on the impaired driving charge – I argued that there was not sufficient evidence to establish that my client’s ability to drive was impaired by the consumption of alcohol on that evening and the Judge agreed and subsequently dismissed that charge.

Get the Best Defence: DV Pledge 

It is important when looking for a criminal defence lawyer that you find one that is not afraid to bring arguments that suggest that the police acted inappropriately in the process of arrest or in processing you. Some criminal defence lawyers are fearful of bringing such arguments to the table.

I, Donna Pledge, wholeheartedly believe in providing full answers and defence to all my clients. And if that requires accusing the police of any form of wrongdoing, then that’s what I will do. I am here to ensure my clients’ rights are protected.

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. Z.J.- Possession of Property Obtained by Crime

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My client was charged with possession of property obtained by crime. The allegations are that my client was in possession of a TV stand that was obtained with a fraudulent credit card. After having several meetings with the assigned crown I was able to convince the crown that although the item was found in my client’s apartment, they were unable to prove that my client knew it was obtained with a fraudulent credit card. The charge was withdrawn.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R. v. Z.Y.- Fraud Over and Theft Over

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My client was charged with Fraud Over and Theft Over. The allegations were that my client leased a vehicle and stopped making payments, however he kept the vehicle. Following several meetings with the assigned crown in this matter, I was able to convince the crown that this was a civil matter and not a criminal matter. Therefore I was able to convince the crown that they did not have any reasonable prospects of conviction and they withdrew the charges.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R. v. M.T.Y.- Fraud Under and Uttering Forged Documents

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My client was charged with Fraud Under and Uttering Forged Documents. The charges involved a serious insurance fraud. I had several meetings with the assigned crown and was able to convince them that the evidence they had as against my client was not enough to go to trial, as a result the crown withdrew all the charges.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT TALK TO THE POLICE

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Let me tell you one of the most important statement to remember if you are arrested and/or being investigated by the police “Do not say anything other than your name, address, telephone number and date of birth TO THE POLICE”.

This Is Your Right

This is of course your right. When you are arrested or investigated by the police you have the right to remain silent and not answer their questions. Not only is it your right, it is the best advise you could ever get. It has been my experience that providing a statement to the police, or just answering a few questions, does not benefit you in the least. In fact more often than not any statement or answers to any questions you provide end up being used against you, regardless of whether it was not meant that way. I have also found in my many years of practice that if the police attempt to get a statement or ask you questions, they are doing so because they do not have enough to arrest you, and therefore are looking for you to give them what they need. I have had many cases where the only evidence against my client was his/her statement and had he/she never provided a statement he/she would never have been arrested.

It Will NOT Hurt You to Not Talk to the Police

If you are ultimately charged, the court cannot draw a negative inference from you not answering the police questions or not giving the police a statement. In other words it will not hurt you not to talk to the police, it can only hurt you to talk to the police. Therefore there is no downside to not providing answers or a statements to the police.

If you are contacted by the police to “come in and answer some questions “, it is likely in relation to potential charges. Therefore the second best advise I can give you is to contact an experience lawyer such as myself, Donna Pledge, a Toronto Criminal lawyer at donnav.pledge@bellnet.ca or 416-630-8702, to first speak with the police on your behalf. The lawyer will ascertain the true reason for you attending the police station as the police’s request. Contacting an experienced lawyer can ultimately stop you from being charged in the first place or at least ensure that you do not provide a statement to the police that can be used against you. Ultimately this could make the difference between you being charged in the first place and being found guilty in the second place. Donna Pledge, a Criminal Lawyer, donnav.pledge@bellnet.ca or 416-630-8702.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R v G.U. – Charged with Possession of Child Pornography & Trafficking in Child Pornography

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My client was charged with Possession of Child Pornography and Trafficking in Child Pornography. I reviewed the file with the crown and was able to convince them that they did not have a reasonable prospect of conviction, that they did not have enough evidence to proceed to trial and as a result both charges were withdrawn, and he was found not guilty of both charges.

Criminal Lawyer Toronto DV Pledge Recent Successes

R v S.V.T – Charged with Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm

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My client was charged with Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm, Assault, Fait to Comply, Aggravated Assault and Obstruct Justice. The matter proceeded to trial and after trial all charges were dismissed and my client was found not guilty.