COURT WATCH: Delays in hearings
By Boundary Sentinel
Grow op turned explosive:
Justin Douglas, 35, of Greenwood, B.C., was represented by counsel in court this week as the dates for his hearing were set. Lawyer Jessie Gelber appeared on behalf of Douglas to waive the preliminary hearing and proceed directly to trial after entering Douglas’ plea of not guilty. Gelber said that they will be challenging the search by police of Douglas’ residence.
Douglas is facing numerous charges after police executed a search warrant on his property, on Aug. 19, 2010, located in the 100 – block of Gold Avenue.
Recovered from the property were nineteen sticks of dynamite, fifteen of which were bound together with a homemade fuse, along with three loaded weapons, and a hand grenade. A marijuana grow operation was also located within the house.
Douglas’ next appearance will be in the Rossland courthouse on Jan. 31.
Feeding wildlife and grow op charges faced
Allen Piche made his second court appearance on Jan. 18. There was another delay in his hearing as it has now been held until Feb. 15. Piche is facing charges for feeding wildlife under the Wildlife Act, as well as criminal charges for production of and possession of for the purposes of trafficking in, marijuana.
A police investigation of an alleged marijuana grow operation in mid-August 2010 uncovered a number of severely habituated and food-conditioned black bears on a rural property near Christina Lake.
The property owner, Piche, had allegedly been feeding the bears large amounts of dog food, in quantities that were enough to sustain the animals. As a result, the bears had become dependent upon humans for food and were docile in response to humans as food providers. It is believed as many as 26 bears were frequenting the property in search of food.
Under the Province’s Wildlife Act, penalties for feeding dangerous wildlife can be as high as $100,000 for a first offence, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. Subsequent convictions for the same offence can result in a fine of not more than $200,000 and not less than $2,000, or a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or both.
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