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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Canada: Marijuana grow op with $250,000 street value was just for
Lisa Joy Ponoka News
Tuesday 28 Feb 2006 A Ponoka man who had a $250,000 marijuana grow operation, just had a severe addiction to the drug and was only growing it for his and his friend’s personal use argued a defence lawyer. “He developed a heavy use of marijuana,” disputed Rick Wyrozub in Ponoka Provincial Court last Friday. “The grow operation was started with the purpose of supporting himself and (Russell Pohl).” But in sentencing, Judge Ken Rostad didn’t buy into that theory. “My finding is that the grow op was a commercial operation,” said Rostad. “I accept Mr. Wyrozub’s representation that it was not on a large scale, however, by his own admission he was in it for his own supply and grew and supplied other people. There is a need for deterrence.” Richter, 26, and Pohl, 27, were arrested Jan. 17 when five RCMP members from Ponoka and Rimbey detachments executed a search warrant on a rural residence west of Ponoka. Richter has been in custody since the arrest and Wyrozub told the court, “in jail he has had a tough time not having access to marijuana. He wants to stay away from it totally because it’s got him in a real mess here already. “Two years is more than adequate for this matter,” added Wyrozub in regards to sentencing. But Crown prosecutor Ian Fraser disagreed and asked the court to give Richter a global sentence of four years in prison for the grow operation, two high speed chases and a litany of other charges. “This needs a severe denunciation,” said Fraser. “(High sped chases) puts police at risk and anyone else that comes along.” According to Fraser, on Dec. 31, at 3:15 a.m. police responded to a complaint of an impaired driver at a local fast food outlet. Police then noticed the vehicle race past them and spin several donuts. Police took chase through Ponoka. After a short distance, the driver lost control of the truck and slammed into a tree. He crawled out his window and escaped on foot. Sniffer dogs were brought in but were unable to locate the suspect. The vehicle was seized and put in a Ponoka towing compound. Just six hours later, at 9:45 a.m., the suspect crashed a tow truck through the gate of the towing compound then unhitch his truck. Police were nearby and the suspect took him on another high-speed chase of speeds up to 130 km per hour before ending the pursuit because of extreme fog. Fraser told the court that after a story appeared in the Ponoka News asking the public’s assistance, tips came in not only regarding their location, but also that they had a marijuana grow operation. An investigation on the location proved there was a grow operation and police from Ponoka and Rimbey detachments descended upon the rural residence Jan. 17 arresting both Richter and Pohl. Throughout court, Feb. 24, Richter sat in the prisoner’s box with his head in his hands or his head lowered, looking up only when the judge handed down his sentence. Crown prosecutor John Lee, on the drug charges, asked Richter be given two years less a day. Richter pled guilty to: producing a controlled substance and possession for purpose of trafficking. For these charges he was given 16 months after time was deducted for time served while in custody waiting for trial. He was given an additional 32 months consecutive and fined $19,825 after pleading guilty to: three counts of driving while unauthorized, four counts of driving with no insurance, two counts of failing to appear in court, careless driving, two counts of failing to stop for police, two counts of dangerous driving, failing to stop and evading police, two counts of possession of stolen property, and break and enter. In addition, Richter’s DNA sample was ordered to be taken, he can’t possess firearms for 10 years. Richter’s accomplice, Russell Pohl also appeared in court Feb. 24 for a bail hearing. Bail was denied and Pohl is scheduled to appear in Ponoka Provincial Court March 17 for trial. Pohl faces five sets of charges including producing a controlled substance, possession for purpose of trafficking, five counts breach of probation, public mischief, driving without insurance and operating an unregistered vehicle.
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