A former Chilliwack man arrested earlier this year when RCMP seized two rifles from a local motel room has been sentenced to two years probation for five firearms-related offences.
Bradley William Van Geel, 30, was issued the term Monday in Prince George provincial court.
He had remained in custody since his arrest on Jan. 18 when RCMP executed a search warrant on a 1900 block Third Avenue motel.
A .22 calibre Cooey rifle with a tampered serial number and a 7 mm Ruger rifle, found loaded, unsecured and lying in the open were seized, RCMP said at the time.
Van Geel, who was also issued a lifetime firearms prohibition and ordered to pay a $200 victim fine surcharge, was convicted of one count of possessing a weapon obtained through an offence and two counts each of careless use or storage of a firearm and possession of a firearm contrary to an order.
At the time he was arrested, Van Geel had been prohibited from possessing firearms for 10 years as a result of a 2011 conviction for robbing a Chilliwack gas station, then stealing a car from a nearby used car lot after attempting to steal a truck from a grocery store parking lot.
Van Geel was sentenced to three years probation for the incident after apologizing to the judge for the crime spree.
In November 2013, he was sentenced in Vanderhoof to 101 days time served and one year probation for possession of stolen property.
