BOYLE — A Smoky Lake man whose rural property was the subject of a Mar. 19 search resulting in the seizure of 35 firearms, and stolen truck, trailer and snowmobile was released after his first appearance in Boyle Court of Justice.
Related: Smoky Lake RCMP use bait trap to track stolen property, seize over 30 firearms
Gregory Huk, 25, appeared in court from the Fort Saskatchewan Remand Centre Mar. 25, less than a week after his initial arrest, and was released from custody after agreeing to a $1,000 cash deposit and specific terms to abide by while his 14 charges are addressed through the judicial process.
Huk was charged with two counts of possession of stolen property, two counts of possession of restricted weapons, six counts of possessing a firearm while unauthorized, and three counts related to the careless storage of loaded and unloaded firearms.
Smoky Lake RCMP Sgt. Anita Doktor spoke to media during a press conference on Mar. 25, the same morning Huk was seen in court, and detailed the police methods used leading up to the search and seizure, prompted by a high rate of property crime within the county.
“Members of the RCMP detachment were able to deploy several techniques including the use of a bait trap, which involves leaving a trackable item in the area where goods are normally stolen in order to trace it back to the one who stole it,” said Doktor.
While on release, Huk must remain in the province, report to probation, reside at his approved resident, not possess any weapons or firearms, and obey a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, with specific exceptions for the purpose of performing farming duties during nighttime hours, such as calving, feeding, and harvest.
Huk will appear in Fort Saskatchewan Court of Justice for his next appearance on April 10.
