POT SCAM LANDS MAN IN JAIL FOR FOUR MONTHS

A London man who claimed he grew marijuana to raise the money he needed to
fight a paternity suit got full marks for a novel excuse yesterday -- and
four months in jail.

"It's the best excuse I've heard so far," Judge Ross Webster said as he
sentenced Grant Donald Martin, 29.

He said he also took into account Martin's guilty pleas and lack of a prior
record in trimming back the Crown's request for a six-month term.

Martin's woes began May 27 when police with a warrant raided his Grey
Street residence.

Federal prosecutor Dave Rowcliffe said beneath a trap door in the living
room floor leading to the basement, officers found a large and
sophisticated pot-growing operation located in several rooms.

In addition to growth lights, fans, water pumps and other equipment, police
found more than 200 plants, 104 grams of dried pot and 49 percodan pills.

Rowcliffe said the maximum potential value of the plants was estimated at
$216,000, a figure both Webster and defence lawyer Murray Neilson scoffed
at.

Charges against two co-accused were withdrawn after Martin pleaded guilty
in Ontario Court, provincial division, to production of marijuana,
trafficking and possession of the percodan.

Neilson said Martin is a manager of an automotive business who needed money
because he was falsely accused in a paternity suit.

He said Martin spent about $4,000 on tests and lawyers fees and was absolved.

Neilson said his client, who was evicted from the Grey Street house, was in
the process of shutting down his pot farm when he was raided. He argued for
a fine.

Rowcliffe wanted jail, contending Martin may have just been moving the pot
scheme somewhere else.

Webster rejected a fine. If word got around the penalty would be cash "all
it means is that they will crank up the (pot growing) system to pay the
fine."

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson