Janice Hopokingi (right) was charged with theft, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of firearms. Photo / Facebook
Janice Hopokingi (right) was charged with theft, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of firearms. Photo / Facebook
A woman found in possession of three shotguns, a rifle and an array of ammunition while cultivating cannabis has escaped a prison sentence.
Janice Hopokingi was charged with theft, cultivation of cannabis and unlawful possession of firearms after police found the items in her home in Weymouth.
She was sentencedin Manukau District Court to home detention today although Judge Gus Andree Wiltens said it was clear Hopokingi was running a commercial operation from the house.
He said there was no evidence Hopokingi used cannabis.
"This is all for other people to use... ruin their lives so you can earn some money," he said.
The firearms found at the address were a Ruger .22 sawn-off rifle, a Ruger 370 Mangnum pump-action shotgun, a Caesar Guerini over-under 12-gauge shotgun and a Winchester Super X Model 2 semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun.
Judge Andree Wiltens told Hopokingi any breaches during her 12 months of home detention would mean she would be sent to prison.
