MAN SENTENCED ON CHARGES OF GROWING MARIJUANA, CHILD ENDANGERMENT

A Happy Valley-Goose Bay man was sentenced Tuesday to a 14-month
conditional sentence in a marijuana-growing case that sparked the
first-ever charge laid for child endangerment under the Child Youth
and Family Services Act in relation to marijuana grows.

Corey Saunders, 34, appeared in provincial court in Happy
Valley-Goose Bay Tuesday and pleaded guilty to four charges resulting
from a RCMP investigation into a marijuana grow operation in the
community in November 2007.

The charges included: cultivation of cannabis marijuana; possession
of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking; trafficking in
marijuana; and child endangerment under the Child Youth and Family
Services Act.

Saunders is also prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years.

On Nov. 22, 2007, RCMP executed a search warrant on a residence in
Happy Valley-Goose Bay and seized 37 marijuana plants in various
stages of growth from seedlings to several feet in height, as well as
other marijuana grow paraphernalia.

The RCMP says the charge of child endangerment and guilty plea to it,
sets a precedent for the future consideration by law enforcement to
apply the section of law. The force says it also serves to enhance
the protection of children and provides further deterrents to people
from growing marijuana.