WNB

Marijuana grower’s sentence requires DARE donation
Michael Spears | Fort Saskatchewan Record | 11/29/2005

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.

Funny that he can make a small donation to a program that's been proven ineffective and get out of jail. I wonder if Judge Rae is really qualified to say who does and does not know what they're doing?-WNB

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