Pot farmer had no intent to sell

BY KEITH LACEY 

Even his own lawyer admitted it was humourous that a Dowling man thought he's get away with growing huge marijuana plants in his back yard.
 
"You could see the plants from hundreds of yards away . . . it was almost comical," said defence lawyer Alex Toffoli, who represented Jean Cote, 40, who was arrested late last September after police found a number of large plants growing on his property on Vermilion Lake Rd.
 
Cote pleaded guilty to production of marijuana. There was never any indication in court Wednesday that Cote, a career miner with more than 20 years of experience, had any intent of selling any of his harvest.
 
Cote has worked hard his entire life, has never been in any kind of trouble with the law before and poses no threat to the community, said Toffoli.
 
Police estimated Cote had grown about 1,000 grams of marijuana and 300 grams of marijuana shake, with a potential street value of $25,000, but Toffoli said his client had no intent to sell any of the pot and the numbers provided by police are often misleading when it comes to the street value of drugs.
 
Justice William Fitzgerald said he didn't find it humorous at all that the accused was growing so much marijuana, but after extended submissions from Toffoli and federal Crown prosecutor Richard Huneault, was convinced Cote didn't pose a danger to the community and agreed to a conditional sentence to be served in the community.
 
For the next three months, Cote will only be allowed to leave his home to go to work and then will have to adhere to strict conditions for another three months, said Fitzgerald.
 
During the police raid, police found two hunting rifles that did not have proper trigger locks on them.
 
Toffoli said his client is an avid hunter and is very upset the drug conviction will result in him not being able to possess any firearm for 10 years. He was also fined $500.
 
Huneault pointed out Cote can still join his hunting buddies in the bush, but won't be able to fire any weapon over the next decade.
 
Toffoli said "everyone makes mistakes" and his client realizes this was a big one and he has no doubt Cote will never again be before the court.