Pubdate: Tue, 26 May 2009
Source: Peterborough Examiner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2009 Osprey Media Group Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/4VLGnvUl
Website: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2616
Author: Galen Eagle
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Marijuana - Canada)

JUDGE TAKES PITY ON MARIJUANA GROWER

A provincial judge gave a grow operator a break yesterday, giving the
41- year-old Guelph woman house arrest for producing about $300,000 of
marijuana and stealing $88,686 worth of electricity.

Kim Nguyen pleaded guilty March 3 in Ontario Court of Justice to
producing marijuana and fraudulently consuming electricity.

When police knocked on Nguyen's front door to investigate the theft of
thousands of dollars worth of electricity, she confessed to
everything, court heard.

"She immediately stated it was being stolen and used for the marijuana
growop in the home," federal prosecutor Mauro DiCarlo said.

After obtaining a second search warrant for drugs, officers returned
to 225 Coral Dr. in Douro-Dummer Township, a two-storey brick house,
on March 5 of last year.

Officers located 261 marijuana plants in six different growing areas
in the basement and a hydro bypass providing power to the hydroponics
equipment. "The community has a very strong interest in deterring
these crimes...they attract other forms of criminal activity including
gang violence," Mr. Justice Michael Block said. "It involves the theft
of a great deal of a precious commodity."

But Block took pity on Nguyen. He called it a case "tinged with
pathos."

Nguyen's pre-sentence report outlined the life of a woman who came to
Canada after fleeing conflict in Vietnam in the 1970s.

After her husband abandoned her, Nguyen was left penniless and as the
sole provider for her five-year-old child, court heard. She has also
been diagnosed with cancer.

"She describes herself as being overwhelmed with debt," Block said.
"She is extremely remorseful."

Block placed Nguyen on house arrest for one year. Upon her release,
she will be on probation for 18 months.

"It's very unusual for people to get house arrest for these types of
offences," Block said. "Please don't betray the community's trust by
getting involved in these type of criminal offences again."