Pubdate: Sat, 06 Aug 2005
Source: Richmond Review, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 Richmond Public Library
Contact:  http://www.richmondreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/704
Author: Martin van den Hemel, Staff Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)

GROW RIPPER GETS TWO YEARS

Accused Have Been In Custody Since Arrests In April

One of a trio of armed grow rippers who targeted a Hamilton home last April 
was sentenced to two years in prison on Thursday. Richmond's Michael 
Medaric, 42, who was originally charged with armed robbery, pled guilty to 
the lesser offence of robbery in Richmond provincial court.

A conviction of armed robbery would have resulted in a minimum four-year 
sentence.

The trial of Medaric and two other men-Steven G. Keall, 22, and Kristopher 
L. Kinghorn, 24, both of Vancouver-began this week, but ended after at 
least two of them entered guilty pleas.

Like Medaric, Keall also pled guilty to simple robbery and will be back in 
court on Sept. 15 for a pre-sentencing report.

It is unclear whether Kinghorn also pled guilty, and if so to which charge, 
but he will be sentenced on Aug. 24.

The trio was arrested by the Richmond RCMP with the help of the New 
Westminster Police after they responded to a 911 call on Saturday, April 9.

Police said at the time that three men had forced their way into a home on 
the 23000 block of Gilley Road and ordered six adult occupants into a bathroom.

Two of the men were masked, and when one of the victims wouldn't do what he 
was told, he was "pistol-whipped" across the face, police said.

The assault victim managed to get away and called police.

As the robbers loaded several garbage bags of marijuana plants into their 
awaiting vehicle, police arrived.

The grow rippers tried to flee in their car, but were eventually nabbed in 
a cul-de-sac by a police officer and his police dog.

A third man was arrested after being tracked down by a police dog.

All three men, who have been in custody since April, were originally 
charged with breaking and entering, robbery and forcible confinement.
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