The fear of mum is more than the fear of the law!
NZ Herald
A cannabis grower has asked a judge if he could get the pots that were seized by police during a search of his home because they belonged to his mother and she wanted them back.
It didn’t stop Quinton Levi Kerr from being sent to prison for two years, but there was room granted in the destruction order for the pots to be returned.
The 39-year-old was sentenced in the Nelson District Court on Tuesday on drugs, firearms and driving charges that dated back to March last year.
His lawyer Rob Ord said Kerr had asked if a small crossbow, slug gun and cannabis bong could be returned, as Kerr, who appeared via AVL from prison custody, chipped in and said the bong held sentimental value as something he had owned for 20 years.
“My mother asked me to ask if I could get them back. She will get upset otherwise,” Kerr asked.
He became emotional with the mention of the death of his partner almost a year ago and added he was also struggling with the news of his ailing grandmother, who he hoped to see again.
Kerr, who did not hold a firearms licence, admitted four charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, including a pistol and a cut-down Ruger and ammunition, plus cultivating cannabis, possessing utensils for cannabis or methamphetamine and driving while suspended for a third or subsequent time.
The charges followed his arrest on March 24 last year, following a search of his address when police had arrived to investigate another matter.
They found 10 cannabis plants growing in a small garden, and firearms in a bedroom, including a 303 rifle after police asked Kerr if they were likely to find anything else.
Police also found the utensils for drug use in a bag under a window, plus several vehicle registration plates.
Kerr said the cannabis was for his own use and the 303 was purely ornamental.
On August 16 last year, when Kerr was on bail, police searched his home again and found a concealed room with three mature cannabis plants.
In January this year, Kerr’s driver’s licence was suspended and three days later he was caught driving in Mapua over the speed limit. He was stopped by police and admitted he was a suspended driver.
Judge Jo Rielly said despite the number of firearms Kerr was found with, none were loaded and there was no evidence they were linked to the commission of any offences.
Sentencing included an uplift for the offending that had occurred while Kerr was on bail and credits to acknowledge his personal circumstances, including difficulties in his childhood, and a physical disability.
Judge Rielly said Kerr had asked her to take into account that his grandmother was unwell and that he wanted to spend time with her.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/cannabis-grower-quinton-kerr-asks-judge-for-return-of-pots-he-took-from-mums-glasshouse/YCMNJQUOEJBH3HZT5B4KYP2YBY/
