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Couple mixed pot growing, fine dining
ROBERTA AVERY | TheStar.com | Dec. 21, 2005

OWEN SOUND—A Swiss chef and his former common-law wife, who turned to growing marijuana to try to stop their failing fine-dining restaurant from going to pot, have been sentenced on drug charges.

Robert Frehner, 66, the chef/owner of the Mill Restaurant in Williamsford, south of Owen Sound, was sentenced Dec. 6 by Justice Julia Morneau to 12 months in jail for production of marijuana.

On Monday, his now estranged common-law wife, Cornelia Laeubli, 26, was given six months' house arrest for production of marijuana, federal Crown prosecutor Doug Grace said yesterday.

Both pleaded guilty.

Frehner also was ordered to forfeit to the Crown $80,000 from the sale of the historic building under the proceeds-of-crime law that allows seizure of "offence-related property."

The chef, with no previous criminal record, was lured into growing pot by a man referred to in court as "Mr. Big," said Frehner's lawyer, Brian Barrie.

"People don't drive big distances to dine out any more, so his business was struggling and Mr. Big offered him a way out, even promising to buy the building," Barrie said in an interview.

Mr. Big tutored Frehner on how to grow marijuana and wired the grow lights, hooking them up to generators powered by turbines built in 1850. These generators helped power the hydroponic lights, air filtration and ventilation systems. But the high-tech operation also needed power from Hydro One.

Mr. Big paid Frehner $60,000 for the marijuana and owed another $20,000, Barrie said.

Pot production began in March 2003 on the mill's upper floors, as Frehner cooked up gourmet delights for unsuspecting patrons in the 100-seat restaurant below. Laeubli oversaw table service.

Police acting on a tip raided the mill in February to seize marijuana with an estimated street value up to $425,000 and grow equipment worth $40,000.

Barrie said his client offered to name Mr. Big if given witness protection. But police knew Mr. Big's identity.

Laeubli was paid $2,000 by Frehner from the grow-op, her lawyer Clayton Conlan said. In August, she offered to name Mr. Big if given witness protection. Her offer was rejected.

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