Man sentenced for theft of weapons, car

A father of 13 children who struggles with medical problems and substance-abuse issues has been sent to jail for stealing firearms and a car earlier this year.

Leonard Brave Rock pleaded guilty Friday in Lethbridge provincial court to three counts of possession of a weapon while prohibited and one count of possession of stolen property under $5,000. He was sentenced to 10 months in jail on each charge, but will serve them consecutively.

Brave Rock, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time, was at his sister's home Aug. 29 when he took a shotgun and two other guns, including a semi-automatic rifle, then jumped into his sister's 2001 Honda Civic and drove away.

His sister called police and Brave Rock was apprehended later the same day after police saw him pull into a parking lot and walk toward a residence. Police arrested him and recovered the firearms from the vehicle, which Brave Rock had left unlocked.

Crown Prosecutor Clayton Giles told court Brave Rock was planning to sell the guns, and said although he pleaded guilty to the charges and faces various "challenges" in his life, a jail sentence is still warranted. Giles also pointed out the offender has a long list of convictions for violence- and property-related offences.

"Mr. Brave Rock has a long and storied criminal record," Giles said.

Although sentenced to 10 months in jail, Lethbridge lawyer Vincent Guinan noted his client had been in pre-trial custody on the charges for the equivalent of slightly more than four and a half months, leaving Brave Rock with just under five and a half months left to serve.