ATHABASCA – An Athabasca-area man caught with a pink, unloaded sawed-off shotgun last fall will learn his sentence next month.
In Athabasca Provincial Court Jan. 16, Clinton Quincey Bigstone pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm, with his lawyer Denise Lightning asking that sentencing put over to Feb. 13 for a pre-sentence report at which time three additional charges of possession of a prohibited firearm, and a single count of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, are expected to be withdrawn. Judge Jeremey Champion, who was presiding over the court, wasn’t seized to the case.
Crown prosecutor Anthony Estephan told court that on Sept. 7, 2022, Athabasca RCMP responded to a complaint of gunshots from quadders. On scene, RCMP asked the shooters to stop and they complied. Ultimately, police found a pink, unloaded “modified .22 calibre” shotgun with the barrel cut off and at the time of the offence, Bigstone did not possess a valid firearms licence.
