AREA GROW HOUSE OPERATOR JAILED FOR EIGHT MONTHS

Citing the increasing number of commercial pot growing operations in
the area, an Ontario Court judge has sent an Augusta Township man to
jail for eight months in jail in hopes of discouraging others.

Richard Rogers, 43, of 3436 County Road 26, received the sentence
behind real bars Wednesday after pleading guilty to producing
marijuana and careless storage of firearms.

Justice Peter Griffiths rejected a defence call for a period of house
arrest, saying it would not be in the public interest.

"Marijuana grow operations are a problem in our community," he said.
"The fact that they are a problem is reported on a regular basis in
our newspapers. "In my view, denunciation of the conduct and the
deterrence of others who would enter into substantial grow operations
requires a true custodial sentence."

Police raided Rogers' rented farm September 6, 2002 after an RCMP
flyover the previous day.

Officers found marijuana strewn about the house and over 200 mature
plants growing outside. The grow area was protected by a camouflaged
hideout.

Police also found an arsenal of weapons and ammunition inside the
house. Seven rifles and shotguns were seized, including two without
trigger locks that lay on bed.

Rogers admitted to owning 76 of the plants valued at between $75,000
to $150,000.

Lawyer Tom Glock said the remaining plants were located on a
neighbouring farm and his client had knowledge or control over them.

Glock argued for a community-based sentence so Rogers could maintain
his full-time employment.

The operation was not sophisticated and his client had demonstrated an
ability to follow court orders, he said.

Prosecutor Harry Clarke said the potentially dangerous combination of
drugs and guns called for a nine-to 12-month jail term.

"There is more to this than some good old boy in the north part of the
county growing a few plants to supplement his income, he said. "What
we have here is a person growing plants in a commercial operation
who's prepared to defend the operation with weapons."

Clarke said the accused's mindset could be summed up by a sign pinned
on a window of the residence.

"Never mind the dog - Beware of the owner," it read.

Marijuana production charges against another man alleged to have been
involved in the operation were withdrawn.

However, Danial Forsyth, 41, of Montague Township, pleaded guilty to
possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.

Forsyth received a 90-day conditional sentence and one year's
probation.