Guilty plea in GF court over weapons charge
By Shara JJ Cooper
A Kelowna man has been convicted in Grand Forks’ provincial court of smuggling and the possession of weapons without a license. Robert William Nicholson pled guilty to the charges on Feb. 18.
Nicholson was the subject of a weapons seizure last year on Nov. 21 when he tried to cross at the Cascade border crossing by Christina Lake. After a thorough examination, Nicholson was found with three stun guns, four canisters of pepper spray and several batons in his vehicle. He was arrested immediately and the weapons were seized.
All of these are prohibited weapons in Canada and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) guards can seize the weapons under the Customs Act.
After his guilty plea, Nicholson was fined $1,500 for smuggling the possession of restricted weapons as well as a $200 victims’ surcharge – the surcharge money is used to fund victims’ services. He has been prohibited from having a weapon for five years.
“This case was an excellent example of the work the CBSA undertakes every day to protect the safety and security of Canadians,” said CBSA chief Chris Argue with the Criminal Investigations Division. “From the officers at the border who seized the weapons to the criminal investigators who worked to ensure that charges were brought before the courts, the CBSA stands vigilant against all acts of cross- border smuggling of weapons.”
