A Provincial Court judge in Prince George sentenced a man to 34 months in jail for firearms possession on July 23.
Garnet Alexander Izony, born in 1991, pleaded guilty March 26 to possessing a loaded, prohibited or restricted firearm and possessing a firearm while prohibited from doing so.
Judge Peter McDermick agreed to a joint proposal from Crown and defence and sentenced Izony to three years, before subtracting 60 days for time served.
“So you're going to go to jail today, which that may sound that I'm angry or upset with you, but holding you accountable for your actions is treating you like a man, which I'm about to do,” McDermick said to Izony.
McDermick also banned Izony from firearms possession for life and recommended Izony be transferred to a detention facility where he can access aboriginal programs.
Court heard that Prince George RCMP arrested Izony on Aug. 10, 2024 in downtown Prince George. Two officers on patrol observed him riding a BMX bike that failed to stop at a stop sign at Sixth Avenue and George Street.
Izony was evasive when he gave them a name and date of birth that did not match the police database. They arrested him for obstruction, searched his backpack and located a hatchet and a sawed-off semiautomatic rifle modified to resemble a shotgun. They also found two banana clip magazines taped to each other for quick reloading.
Izony was sentenced in September 2018 for multiple offences and given a 10-year ban on possessing firearms. In February 2022, a judge gave him a conditional sentence order that would have expired at the end of August 2024. That order included conditions banning him from possessing weapons and knives.
McDermick was satisfied that Izony remained sober in pre-sentencing treatment through VisionQuest Recovery Society and encouraged him to continue making progress.
“It's going to go well for you, you're going to get out,” McDermick said.
