Kelsey Stewart was sentenced Monday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Crime

Man with gun at convenience store receives over three-year prison sentence

Dec 5, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A man who entered a Prince Albert convenience store with a loaded sawed off shotgun strapped to his leg, has received a three-and-a-half year prison sentence.

Kelsey Lee Stewart, 30, appeared Monday afternoon at Prince Albert Provincial Court, and formally entered guilty pleas to possession of a loaded firearm, as well as possession of a firearm while prohibited from doing so.

The case dates back to the early evening hours of Sept. 19, when Stewart was observed inside the 7-Eleven on Second Ave. W.

According to facts read in court by Crown prosecutor Mary Ann Larson, Stewart was observed acting suspiciously and when approached by a store employee, informed her he was “strapped.” He then left the store and no one else was either threatened or hurt.

Police were then called and Stewart, along with a woman, were located soon after near the 600 block and 13th St. W. Both were arrested without incident.

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Upon being searched at the police station, a loaded sawed off shotgun was found strapped to Stewart’s leg by way of a sheath.

Taken into consideration for sentencing was Stewart’s criminal record which includes a number of property type offences, as well as a similar type offence from 2019, when Stewart was found sleeping in his uncle’s basement, with a loaded gun nearby. In 2017, Stewart received a 60-day sentence after assaulting another inmate with a cooking pot.

Defence lawyer Dale Blenner-Hassett outlined Stewart grew up in group homes and when returned home, was exposed to alcohol. By age 14 he was drinking and later began using cannabis, meth and hydromorphone pills.

Blenner-Hassett said the joint submission presented to the judge was within the appropriate range.

“A serious crime and a serious sentence,” he said, adding Stewart’s intentions to seek treatment.

Before accepting the joint submission, Judge Hugh Harradence noted how firearms have become more prevalent in the community.

“It’s a concern to me and it’s a concern to members of the public,” he said.

With credit for time spent in remand custody, Stewart has just over three years left to serve. Upon release, he won’t be allowed to possess any firearms or explosives for life.

The woman who had been with Stewart, Patricia Sewap, had at the time been sought on a Canada-wide warrant for breaching her statutory release conditions.

She was further charged with obstruction of a peace officer and in October, received a 60-day sentence concurrent to her pre-existing time left to serve.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell