Firearms charges net 26-month jail term

A 26-month jail sentence was given to a Saskatchewan man arrested in Medicine Hat on multiple firearms charges.

Cameron St. Laurent appeared by closed-circuit television from the remand centre, entering guilty pleas to various charges including possessing a loaded prohibited weapon, possessing stolen property over $5,000, and possessing a weapon when prohibited .

The 31-year-old was arrested July 14, when a civilian noticed him sleeping in a vehicle close to her residence. The civilian was worried about his health, and tried but failed to wake him, so called police.

Police found the licence plate belonged to a vehicle stolen in Moose Jaw. They arrested St. Laurent without incident, and when searching the vehicle found a loaded 12gauge shotgun concealed in the vehicle.

“He was not using the weapon at the time for any other offence,” noted the Crown prosecutor, about mitigating factors in the sentencing. As well, the plea is an early one that means not having to go to trial.

St. Laurent has a criminal record, which in 2015 included being convicted for pointing a handgun, the Crown said.

Defence counsel noted that St. Laurent usually works in the oil patch, but has been laid off and is not working. St. Laurent also has addictions issues, it was noted, and “fully means to take advantage of programs in the federal penitentiary” for rehabilitation, the court heard.

Twenty-days credit was granted towards the sentence due to pretrial custody.