A Coquitlam man has received a nine-month jail sentence for his role in a marijuana grow operation located in the Eagle Ridge area.
Matthew Man Fung Lee was arrested at a home in the 2500-block of Steeple Court, which contained a large quantity of marijuana plants worth an estimated $693,000 if sold by the gram.
"He was a tender of the crop in a set up that in my view was rather sophisticated," said Justice Elizabeth Arnold-Bailey. "As a mature man with clear financial and family responsibilities he made a decision to be involved purely for financial reasons."
The 46-year-old's legal troubles began in March of 2007 when neighbours reported a break-in at the residence. Coquitlam RCMP were unable to apprehend the two burglary suspects but found more than 300 pot plants inside the home during the course of their search.
Lee, who was not at the home at the time of the break-in, was arrested when he returned to the residence at around 3 a.m. on March 25.
The Crown said the grow-op was considered to be a mid-sized operation and some of the plants discovered had been growing for eight to 12 weeks. Plants at all stages were found and automatic light timers and significant fortifications had been setup in the home.
Lee, who is married and has two children, had no prior criminal record. His lawyer argued that Lee was not the owner of the home and there were no weapons or traps found on the premises.
Another mitigating factor, according to the defence, was the fact that Lee did not reside in the home and there were no children found living in the residence at the time of his arrest.
