Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jun 2005
Source: North Shore News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 North Shore News
Contact:  http://www.nsnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/311
Author: Jane Seyd
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

GROW OP COSTS NORTH VAN MAN $100,000

A North Vancouver man who stood to make more than $100,000 with the 
proceeds of a sophisticated marijuana-growing operation has instead 
been fined $100,000 by a B.C. Supreme Court judge.

Justice Randall Wong opted to give Kerry Allen Grant, 47, a whopping 
fine rather than a conditional sentence because he said a fine would 
do less to hurt Grant's future job prospects.

A 47-year-old with an 18-year-old son, Grant is a well-educated 
person who had always worked, earned a good income and enjoyed a 
comfortable lifestyle, before his stint in the pot-growing business, 
the judge noted.

Wong said money appeared to be Grant's main motive. While he may have 
had partners in the operation, "from the documents seized from within 
the premises, it was quite clear you were the main player in this 
grow op," said Wong.

Grant changed his plea partway through a trial in B.C. Supreme Court 
from not guilty to guilty on two drug charges. He was charged on Jan. 
18, 2004 of producing marijuana and of possessing more than three 
kilograms of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking.

Police estimated the equipment in the grow op alone was worth between 
$5,000 and $10,000. When RCMP busted the pot-growing operating, there 
were indications there had already been an earlier harvest. Police 
estimated the value of the marijuana at between $92,000 and $188,000, 
depending on whether it was sold by the pound or by the gram.

"It appeared to be an elaborate and sophisticated operation involving 
major capital investment," said Wong.

Authorities were alerted to the grow op, which was in a commercial 
building, after receiving an anonymous tip about the smell of 
marijuana in the building.

Even though Grant had tried to mask the smell with insulation and 
ventilation systems, it didn't work, and other tenants became 
concerned about the smell of pot coming from a common area of the 
building, said Wong.

Wong noted Grant's woes began after his then-wife became addicted to 
cocaine and a "pressing need to help support her habit" led to 
financial trouble and eventually to bankruptcy in 2004.

Grant had been working, until his bosses found about the drug charges.

At the time of his sentencing, he was living with his parents, in the 
process of divorcing and relying on loans from relatives for financial support.

Wong noted an aggravating factor in the case was that Grant obviously 
knew someone who acted as a distributor for his marijuana crop.

Given his lack of a prior criminal record, however, Wong said a large 
fine was an appropriate sentence. He sentenced Grant to $50,000 on 
each charge and gave him one year to pay the fines.
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