New court date set for Gerald Stanley gun charges

Gerald Stanley, the Saskatchewan farmer recently acquitted in the August 2016 shooting death of Colten Boushie, had a new hearing date set as he prepares to face a pair of firearms charges.

While a jury found Stanley, 56, not guilty after his second-degree murder trial in Boushie’s death, he still faces two charges of unsafe storage of a firearm related to weapons RCMP found during a search of his property following the shooting.

Stanley’s lawyer, Scott Spencer, appeared briefly by phone Monday in North Battleford Provincial Court to ask for a new court date for his client.

Stanley’s case was adjourned to April 16.

While Stanley did not appear in court, members of Colten Boushie’s family attended the hearing, including his mother Debbie Baptiste and his uncle Alvin Baptiste.

Debbie Baptiste says laws, treaties being broken. Says she believes RCMP "covered up Gerald Stanley." #sask pic.twitter.com/kDzQWoE2wJ

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) March 19, 2018

After court, Alvin Baptiste speaks again. Says Stanley was a "coward" for not showing, criticizes Premier Scott Moe. #sask pic.twitter.com/FmRbzg1SVW

— Chris Vandenbreekel (@Vandecision) March 19, 2018

Penalties for unsafe storage of a firearm vary.

At the low end, a judge can choose to discharge an offender who pleads guilty, meaning the person would have no criminal record. A discharge can either be absolute, or can come with probationary conditions attached.

Prosecutors have the option of pursuing the charge as either a less serious summary offence, or a more serious indictable offence.

If pursued summarily, the charge carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

If pursued by indictment, the maximum penalty is two years in prison for a first offence, up to a maximum of five years in prison if a person has previous convictions.