A 63-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to nine months in jail for his role in operating a marijuana grow operation.
In sentencing "Ben" Gjisbertus Jacbus Delege, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale endorsed defence counsel's position on sentencing. Crown counsel had argued for 12-15 months.
However, defence counsel was unable to persuade Tindale from waiving a a 10-year firearms prohibition. The exemption was sought because Delege works on a cattle ranch and needs a gun to protect the livestock.
But Tindale concluded raising cattle was a vocation Delege has chosen to follow at this point in his life and that he has a variety of other skills that make him employable.
Delege and his son, Steven Andrew Delege, 40, were arrested in December 2012 after RCMP executed a search warrant on a 10300-block Pilot Mountain Road home related to an alleged theft of electricity.
Gisbertus blamed the installation of a smart meter for blowing his cover, the court was told.
Police ended up seizing 1,569 plants, of which 470 were budding and just two weeks away from harvesting. It was enough to yield 196 pounds of bud and generate $352,800 when sold at the pound level and $870,640 at the gram level.
The plants were found in the lower level and basement of the split-level home.
The equipment found included oscillating fans, charcoal filters and apparatus for drying the marijuana. The sophistication of the operation was rated at about mid-range and there was no evidence that organized crime was involved.
Delege pleaded guilty to possession for the purpose of trafficking just as a trial was to start and Tindale accepted that he was remorseful for his actions. Tindale also noted the many letters of support attesting to Delege's good character.
The Deleges were arrested just after so-called mandatory minimums for drug-related offences came into effect. Had they been arrested before November 2012, conditional sentences - in which the time is served at home - could have been considered.
Submissions on sentencing were given in June and the decision was delayed until Tuesday so that Delege could finish calving season.
Charges against Steven Delege, who faces the same counts, remain before the court.
