Hay River (Mar 29/04) - Three people have been sentenced for their roles in producing cannabis resin at a Hay River house.

Mary Jane Martin and Shawn Charles Evans of Hay River, and Thomas William Laviolette of Fort Smith pleaded guilty last week in NWT Supreme Court.

Laviolette, 39, and Evans, 32, were fined $1,500 each, and placed on one year's probation.

Martin, 48, was given a suspended sentence, placed on probation for one year and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service.

"Her involvement appears to be more on the periphery," said Deputy-Judge Rene Foisy in passing sentence March 23.

The charges under Section 7 of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act arose from a Nov. 6, 2002, police raid on Martin's residence.

Police found 1,260 grams -- roughly two and a half pounds -- of marijuana in various locations in the residence.

Scales and money -- $1,670.80 -- seized during the search were also forfeited to the Crown.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Laviolette owned the marijuana and had asked Evans to make the resin. Martin was aware it was taking place.

Lawyer Robert D. Gorin, who represented Laviolette, told the court the marijuana to be processed was "shake" -- stalks and stems. "It had no street value."

Gorin added there was no suggestion the resin was being produced for trafficking.

The process would have resulted in two and a half ounces of resin for personal use, he said.

The lawyers for Evans and Martin also pointed out the two smoked marijuana as a treatment for pain caused by medical conditions, most notably arthritis.