MARIJUANA GROWER'S SENTENCE REQUIRES DARE DONATION

A long, drawn -- out case involving a Fort Saskatchewan resident who grew
marijuana is over and the Fort's DARE (Drug andAlcohol Resistance
Education) program will be the beneficiary.

Shawn Pinder, 23, will be making a $1,000 donation to the Fort
Saskatchewan DARE program.

Judge Doug Rae handed down the sentence last Friday concluding a case from
earlier this year.

Pinder and his girlfriend, Krystal Robinson, were living in an apartment
at 210 Westpark Drive, with eight 'unhealthy' pot plants when the Fort
Saskatchewan RCMP investigated the home.

Federal Crown Prosecutor Irvine Schulz has been handling the file almost
exclusively since it was first heard in Fort Saskatchewan Provincial Court.

Schulz told the court that the "plants were in not the best of condition"
when the RCMP arrived to seize them while underneath a grow light.

An Ontario native, Pinder has only a Grade 10 education and operates his
own business with his brother.

After hearing the description of Pinder's marijuana Judge Rae had little
sympathy.

"It doesn't sound sophisticated and doesn't sound like he knew what he was
doing," said Judge Rae.

It was the defence's suggestion that Pinder's sentence include the
donation to DARE.

"Because you have no criminal record, because you made a feabile attempt
to grow some pot for yourself I'll give you a conditional discharge," said
Judge Rae.

Pinder was also further sentenced to six months of probation.