(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

jail time

Man sentenced to penitentiary time for firearms charge

Mar 18, 2019 | 12:02 PM

A man who fell asleep behind the wheel wearing body armour with a sawed-off shotgun by his side will serve time in a federal penitentiary.

The lawyer for Jeremy Bird requested that her client serve his time in a provincial correctional facility, saying he is more familiar with that system, but Judge Albert Lavoie agreed with the Crown’s assertion that Bird should serve at least three years in a federal institution. Bird, 26, was sentenced last week to three years in jail, less 261 days credit for time spent on remand.

The incident happened last September in Prince Albert. Police later found Bird passed out in the vehicle wearing body armor with the gun at his side. Two shotgun shells were in his back pocket.

Bird pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property and possession of a prohibited weapon in relation to the incident. While Bird wasn’t intending to use the gun, Crown Prosecutor Shawn Blackman said in court that Prince Albert has seen a marked increase in gun crimes in recent years.

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“He anticipates himself being in a circumstance where he’s going to require body armour,” Blackman added.

Bird’s defence lawyer, Estelle Hjertaas said her client has never been in a penitentiary before. She said Bird was intoxicated the night of the incident and wants to take responsiblity for his actions. A pre-sentence report in the case noted that Bird has ties to a gang and was concerned about some of the people he might run into when he fell asleep in the vehicle.

Hjertaas said Bird has made a lot of bad decisions, but “does seem to have a lot of insight into his actions.” She said Bird is hoping to get more job training and wants to get on a more positive path.

“He know he has time to serve and when he gets out, he wants to stay sober,” Hjertaas said.

In sentencing Bird, Judge Lavoie agreed there has been an increase in crimes involving firearms and modified weapons. Lavoie ordered Bird to provide a sample of his DNA for the national registry and banned him from having firearms for 10 years after his release.

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charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt