REGINA – Brett Lorne Bellegarde, 31, entered a guilty plea in Regina Provincial Court today, on a charge of possession of a firearm contrary to a prohibition order.
The charge stems from a March 28, 2022 incident were police were called to the 1400 block of Bond Street for a firearms offence. According to a media release from RPS, a group of masked men attended the residence - attempting to rob another man with a firearm in tow. The victim went inside the home and locked the door while the suspects left in a vehicle.
After a high risk traffic stop, police arrested five occupants, and one person was arrested on an unrelated warrant. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a firearm and a substance believed to be methamphetamine.
Bellegarde was one of the men involved in the incident, and defence counsel noted he has made great strides over the last year. A resident of the Peepeekisis First Nation, Bellegarde has been providing community service; such as assisting with the hay harvest for bison, preparing for sweat ceremonies, and assisting with other community events. Defence even noted Bellegarde has since joined the Emergency Response Team for the File Hills First Nation, actively participating in fire-fighter training.
Given the shift in the course of his life, and Bellegarde’s otherwise clean criminal record, Judge James Rybchuk imposed a conditional sentence order for six months, plus a $100 Victim Fine Surcharge.
“Your willingness tells me this sentence makes a lot of sense for you,” said Judge Rybchuk in handing down the order, which included a curfew, firearms prohibition, and a no-contact order with two people involved in the original incident.
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