CROWN KEEP CASH SPOILS FROM GROW OP

The federal government is about $270,000 richer this week thanks to a
Kelowna Provincial Court ruling denying its return to a Peachland man.

When RCMP used a search warrant to enter the home of John Edward
Newcome, they were expecting to find a marijuana grow operation or
perhaps information connecting him to his own rental home in Maple
Ridge.

That home was found to be a marijuana grow operation with some 1,800
plants growing.

Police found plenty of evidence that the Peachland home was being
outfitted for a marijuana grow operation but they also found four
handguns and $270,000 in cash, bundled and stored in the ceiling with
the weapons.

They also found score sheets, a money counter and other
items.

Newcome applied to have the money returned.

He told judge Wilf Klinger that he was a businessman and entrepreneur
owning (at the time) Coast Mountain Solar Supply, Pacific Choppers,
Lockjaw Clothing, Touchstone Construction, Legendary Street Rods and
other businesses.

He said he kept the cash on hand to finance high stakes gambling for
which he needs access to large amounts of cash and that he didn't
trust banks.

Klinger simply didn't believe him or his father, calling their claims
"incredible."

"While counsel for the applicant argues that there are possible
innocent explanations of each evidentiary item relied on by (the
police), in my view, the evidence considered as a whole and regarded
realistically, establishes beyond all reasonable doubt that the monies
seized were proceeds of crime-deliberately hidden so that its
existence would not be revealed through banking records," Klinger said.