By Keith Lacey
A St. Charles man who has worked hard to develop a burgeoning motorsports park in the small town 60 kilometres southeast of Sudbury, was spared a jail sentence Thursday after pleading guilty to developing a large marijuana growing operation.
Christopher Beltsis, was given a two-year conditional sentence to be served in the community. The sentence includes house arrest every night between 8 pm and 6 am, performing 220 hours of community service and prohibition from owning or possessing any illicit drug.
Beltsis, 28, was busted by police in September 2000. He was caught with 633 plants with a street value police estimated at between $100,000 and $250,000. When police arrived to arrest Beltsis, he set on fire the greenhouse where the large marijuana crop was growing and firefighters had to be called to the scene.
He pleaded guilty several weeks ago to cultivating marijuana and obstructing justice. Court heard none of the pot grown was ever sold and much of it was mouldy and useless.
Court heard Beltsis not only developed a business plan, but secured several government loans and worked day and night for the past 18 months to open the St. Charles Motorsports Park.
The track has hosted numerous snowmobile, moto-cross and ATV races the past few months, all with great success and the community support has been overwhelming, said Karen Martin, Beltsis' common-law wife.
Justice Patricia Hennessy said this was one of the "rare exceptions" where a person convicted of operating a large-scale drug operation would be spared imprisonment.
Because of the huge operation, this accused must serve a jail sentence, but because he doesn't pose a danger and has worked so hard to become a contributing member of his community, the sentence can be served in the community, she said.
Beltsis poured "a tremendous amount of sweat equity" in developing the 170-acre parcel of land he owned and turning it into a thriving business with tremendous community support, said Hennessy.
Beltsis' hard work and knowledge are crucial to ensuring the business remains viable and she's satisfied this accused has learned a valuable lesson and "fully understands the gravity of the offence."
A conditional sentence with punitive measures will send home the message Beltsis committed a serious crime, but will allow for his rehabilitation while keeping his burgeoning business afloat, she said.
Martin testified several events at the motorsports park have had overwhelming public support with one event drawing 800 people to St. Charles, a town with a population of only 700.
Beltsis does all the labour-intensive work, while Martin handles the books, promotion and other paperwork.
Beltsis has managed to attract several loans and grants and has been approved for another $125,000 loan pending an environmental assessment of the property, she said.
Beltsis works seven days a week and is deeply committed to developing and expanding the facility, she said.
She didn't know Beltsis was growing marijuana at first and "felt so bad" when she found out. She had threatened to leave if he didn?t destroy the plants, she said.
Beltsis testified he had bought some kerosene to destroy his plants the day he was busted.
When asked what it felt like to be busted for growing a large amount of pot, Beltsis said "I feel
like an idiot to tell you the truth."
Defence counsel Andrew Buttazzoni said there was no financial gain to Beltsis whatsoever in this growing operation.
A large-scale grow operation calls out for a jail sentence, but considering what Beltsis has accomplished through his own hard work, serving that sentence in the community with strict punitive measures would not be inappropriate in this case, said Buttazzoni.
Federal Crown prosecutor Pierre Bradley disagreed saying a jail term is necessary. Beltsis is obviously "a very smart individual" and only grew these plants "for mere profit", he said.
Burning down the greenhouse before the police moved in is a serious aggravating factor, he said.
The court shouldn't believe Beltsis' story he was going to burn down his crop the same day police arrived to arrest him, said Bradley.
