A Vietnamese man found guilty of crop sitting a Wendouree grow house has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Truong Nguyen, 24, was sentenced at the County Court at Ballarat on Wednesday with Judge Howard Mason describing his offending as serious, given the maximum penalty is 25 years in jail.
Judge Howard accepted Nguyen's role assisted in managing the large crop.
"The cannabis crop was significant and was flourishing," Judge Howard said.
He said marijuana had an impact on users, their families and the community.
A jury found Nguyen guilty of cultivating a narcotic plant in a commercial quantity and acquitted him of negligently dealing with the proceeds of crime on November 9.
He pleaded not guilty to the offences.
On July 18, 2016, police raided the Wendouree house to find 153 kilograms of marijuana with 265 plants in various growths.
The crop weight was six times the commercial quantity.
Two toothbrushes were located in the bathroom - one with Nguyen's DNA on it.
Nguyen maintained he had no knowledge of the marijuana crop when the co-accused asked him to drive from Ascot to Ballarat on the morning of July 18, 2016.
But the jury rejected his submission.
The court was told Nguyen was born in Vietnam and moved to Australia where he met his current partner in 2012.
He studied business management and worked two jobs.
The court was told Nguyen had strong family and social support in Australia and his rehabilitation prospects were positive.
Nguyen must serve a minimum of 18 months before being eligible for parole.
He has already served 248 days in custody.
Nguyen's co-accused, who pleaded guilty in July 2017, was sentenced to two years' jail with a non-parole period of 13 months.