One of two people arrested in relation to a September drugs and weapons bust on a College Heights home has been sentenced to eight months house arrest.
James Archibald Webb, 43, must also serve 18 months probation under a sentence issued Wednesday in Prince George provincial court.
He was arrested several days after police executed a search warrant on a 6184 Trent Drive home on Sept. 6, 2013. The other person facing charges from the raid, Chasity Michelle Reed, 32, was arrested at the scene.
Police uncovered a small marijuana grow operation of about 20 plants plus equipment to make marijuana oil. They also seized a loaded .357 Magnum handgun, two rifles, ammunition, and some allegedly stolen small appliances.
B.C. Hydro disconnected the electricity to the property, which borders College Heights Secondary School. A "Do Not Occupy" notice was also placed on the home by city officials.
The matter had been set for trial Wednesday but Webb pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing a firearm without a licence and fraudulent consumption of electricity . Ten other firearms-related charges and one count of production of a controlled substance were stayed.
Reed meanwhile, pleaded guilty to three firearms-related charges and one count of fraudulent consumption of electricity from the arrest while seven other firearms counts were stayed as was one count each of possession of stolen property under $5,000 and production of a controlled substance. Her matter was put over so a pre-sentence report can be prepared.
Webb pleaded guilty to the firearm charge because he had been linked to a .22 calibre rifle found in the grow-op seeding room. The .357 Magnum was found in Reed's dresser, the court was told.
Had the two forced a trial and been found guilty of production of a controlled substance, they would have faced at least two years in jail because of the home's close proximity to a school.
Crown prosecution had been seeking a jail term of one year less 190 days time served at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, noting in part that he had a record of previous offences, while defence counsel argued for a lesser term citing, in part, Webb's health troubles.
Webb had spent six months in hospital after problems with his blood count had put him in a coma, the court was told. He had also developed an addiction to painkillers as a consequence of two surgeries on his back.
About two months prior to the raid, he was released from hospital and invited by someone he knew previously to live in the home with Webb's disability payments covering the rent. Because he was the only one in the home with a good credit record, the Hydro bill was put in his name as were some cellphone contracts. He also covered some missed rental payments.
"In retrospect, Mr. Webb was thankful he had a place to stay nearby but he does realize he was being used as a pawn...a person who could assist the other residents of the house with some issues," defence lawyer Jason LeBlond said.
Webb's health has been declining since he has been in custody and he had arranged to live in a home on the Hart Highway upon his release, the court was told. While under house arrest, Webb must remain in the home except between noon and 4 p.m. each day to attend medical appointments.
He was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to B.C. Hydro for the stolen electricity.
