By Tom Summer, Local Journalism Initiative, Alaska Highway News
A Fort St. John man was sentenced last Tuesday to 20 months probation and 50 hours community service for an illegal cannabis grow-op in June 2017.
Edward James Fennell, 51, pleaded guilty to to one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and for the production of more than three kilograms of cannabis seized from his home on 99 Avenue.
Officers seized 170 plants from three hidden grow rooms inside the home, which RCMP described as a “typical two-stage grow op” with a street value between $60,000 to $95,000. Fennell previously had a medical licence to grow cannabis, which was expired at the time of his arrest, the court heard.
He declined an opportunity to speak to the court about his sentencing.
He was issued a two-year suspended sentence and released to serve 20 months probation and the requirement to complete community service.
Cannabis became legal in Canada in October 2018.