Guilty plea in alleged gunpoint kidnapping
Daniel Rego admits guilt in several firearm offence but still faces multiple charges
Justice Catriona Verner will still determine Daniel Rego’s innocence or guilt on the remaining charges, including kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery and threatening death or bodily harm
A Peterborough man has pleaded guilty to several firearm offences in connection to an alleged gunpoint kidnapping that involved a Peterborough sex worker.
Before the start of his trial on Monday in the Superior Court of Justice, Daniel Rego pleaded guilty to six of the nine charges he faced.
Rego, 29, pleaded guilty to unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm in a motor vehicle, possession of a loaded restricted firearm, possession of a prohibited (CEW), two counts of careless storage of a restricted firearm and careless storage of ammunition.
Justice Catriona Verner will still determine Rego’s innocence or guilt on the remaining charges, including kidnapping with a firearm, armed robbery and threatening death or bodily harm. He elected to be tried by judge alone.
According to the agreed statement of facts, the Peterborough Police Service received information in October 2021 that a woman was in a vehicle in possible distress. The source of the information also indicated there was a firearm in the vehicle.
At around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 30, 2021, police saw a vehicle matching the description given to investigators. Police conducted a traffic stop and located Rego in the driver’s seat and a woman in the passenger seat. Police said the woman appeared frightened and she told police there was a firearm in the vehicle, court heard.
Based on that and the contents of the original report to police, Rego was removed from the vehicle and arrested. A search of the vehicle turned up a 9mm black handgun under the driver’s seat with a fully loaded magazine, the court heard.
After learning more information through the investigation, police received a warrant for Rego’s moth
er’s home.
During the search of the home, police located several weapons, the court heard.
Three rifles were found on the living room floor with towels draped over them, while another rifle was located on a shelf in a storage room in the basement, the court heard.
In the same storage room, two handguns were found in a drawer.
The handguns weren’t loaded but were located beside four loaded magazines that fit the handguns, the court heard.
Two shotguns were also located in the home, the court heard. One shotgun was found on the kitchen counter while the other was located on a couch in the basement.
Lastly, conducted energy weapons (CEW) were in the kitchen and on a basement shelf.
The trial will resume on Tuesday.