Pubdate: Tue, 29 Nov 2005 Source: Fort Saskatchewan Record, The (CN AB) Copyright: 2005 The Fort Saskatchewan Record Contact: http://www.fortsaskatchewanrecord.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/824 Author: Michael Spears, staff writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal - Canada) BRUDERHEIM MAN TRIES TO DEFEND GROW-OP Claims The Marijuana Was Being Grown For Macros Medical Group Bruderheim area resident Darryl Kalyn, 53, attempted to explain the presence of his 198 plant marijuana grow -- op due to its medical benefits. Earlier this year, on May 6, members of the Provincial Joint Force 'Green Team', the RCMP Emergency Response Team, and members from the Fort Saskatchewan RCMP detachment visited Kalyn's Lamont County acreage to execute a search warrant. What they found in several buildings, including the home, included 198 plants, several grams of processed marijuana, 13 weapons, ammunition and a building that had been set up to grow marijuana plants. Kalyn was in court last Friday to have a preliminary hearing on charges of careless storage of a firearm, unauthorized possession, producing a controlled substance, and possession for the purposes of trafficking. Kalyn's defense counsel Arnold Piragoff did not ask the Judge for a publication ban, which is usual procedure for a preliminary hearing. "One thing that is going to be unusual is that there is not going to be a publication ban," said Piragoff. The Crown and defense had reached a deal prior to the start of the hearing to shorten the hearing as much as possible. As part of the Crown's case they called only three witnesses, two members of the Green Team and one Fort Saskatchewan RCMP member. Cpl Lorne Adamitz of the Green Team provided the majority of the Crown's evidence as he detailed the property and gave Judge Doug Rae an orientation of the acreage using a total of 70 photographs taken at the scene. "My role was to document the marijuana grow op and identify," said Adamitz. "As well I seized weapons on the property." Adamitz testimony also included a great deal of knowledgeable evidence about the process by which marijuana grow -- operations can be conducted and the techniques that can be utilized. He described Kalyn's home as being "not a sophisticated grow". His testimony also continued to assess Kalyn's abilities. "They had a sufficient knowledge of the requirements though," said Adamitz. Piragoff asked the two officers from the Green Team about whether they were familiar with the organization, the Macro Medical Group. "What I'm suggesting to you is that the Macro Medical Group is a spin - - off of the Compassion Club," said Piragoff. He also asked the same questions of the other officer from the Green Team to take the stand, Cst. Chan Dara. Piragoff spent some time asking Cst. Dara how it was that he obtained enough information to obtain a search warrant to enter the premises. The court was told that police were given more information about Kalyn's home and activities that also allegedly linked him to producing and trafficking crystal methamphetamines. "I investigated this matter strictly on the marijuana grow operation," said Cst. Dara. Cst. Munro from the Fort detachment testified to the inquiry about the arrest procedures as well as her activities on May 6. She told the inquiry that she and another RCMP officer arrested Kalyn after following his vehicle into Bruderheim to a tavern where he was taken into custody. Piragoff asked Cst. Munro if she was aware that Bruderheim used to have an archery range which he said would account for Kalyn having the two crossbows. Given that she has only been a member of the RCMP for nine months she did not have that knowledge. The case will proceed by Judge and jury at a later date and has been set over to Jan. 13 in Edmonton when the Appearance Court Judge will schedule the trial for sometime in 2006. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin