Pubdate: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 Source: Hamilton Spectator (CN ON) Copyright: 2008 The Hamilton Spectator Contact: http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/181 Author: Paul Legall GRAVELLE CALLS FIVE-YEAR SENTENCE 'VACATION' A member of the notorious Gravelle family -- whom the judge described as a "reckless and dangerous" offender -- maintained an upbeat mood after he was sentenced to five years in the penitentiary on drug and gun charges yesterday. "Just think of it as a long vacation," said 27-year-old Richard Gravelle, as he waved and smiled at friends and supporters in the courtroom. Earlier, when his mother interrupted the court proceedings by crying loudly in the courtroom, he calmly tried to assure her that he'd be all right. "Mom, I could use a vacation." "No, it's not OK," she sobbed as she ran out of the courtroom. Gravelle then pleaded guilty to numerous criminal charges relating to a raid at his Duncombe Drive home on May 29, 2008, when police found an arsenal of dangerous weapons, including handguns, a sawed-off shotgun and assault rifles. Police also discovered 299 marijuana plants and 2.58 kilograms of processed marijuana and seized $41,000 of drug money. There was also ammunition in the house for all the firearms and a loaded handgun. After the May 29 raid, Gravelle was released on $85,000 bail and placed on bail conditions that constituted house arrest. Last week, the day before he was expected to plead guilty on the May 29 charges, he was arrested again with his 18-year-old girlfriend, Ashley Oliver, and charged with raft of new offences in connection with another grow house at 297 Balmoral Avenue North. In the house, police found 172 marijuana plants, 177 grams of processed marijuana and a quantity of ecstasy pills. When Gravelle and Oliver were arrested near the house, they both gave police false names and were later charged with numerous drug charges. Gravelle yesterday pleaded to additional charges of marijuana cultivation, breach of recognizance and obstruct justice in connection with the Sept. 26 arrest. In handing down the five-year penitentiary sentence for both sets of charges, Ontario Justice Norm Bennett said he considered the facts of the case most "grave and serious." He said he considered Gravelle a "reckless and dangerous young man" who had no respect for the laws of the land, court orders or the safety of others. He also chastised Gravelle for dragging his young girlfriend into the "mess" and for committing more offences the night before his expected guilty plea last week. Oliver, who has spent five days in jail, was placed on probation for one year and ordered to keep away from criminals, except her boyfriend. Her lawyer Barry Caskie had argued that it would be useless to try to keep the pair apart because they'd been involved in a two-year relationship and were deeply in love. The Crown withdrew drug and weapons charges against Oliver relating to the police raids on May 29 and Sept. 26. Similar charges were dropped against another 20-year-old woman who was also charged in May. The Crown withdrew gun-related charges against 38-year-old Christian Gravelle, who was also charged in the Duncombe Drive raid. He still faces drug possession charges for which he's to appear in court on Oct. 28. Christian is Richard Gravelle's cousin. Four members of the Gravelle clan, including Richard's father Daniel, were among 15 people charged in Nova Scotia last month in connection with a $15 million hash oil smuggling operation. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart