Shotgun toting Penticton courthouse visitor sentenced

PENTICTON – The man accused of bringing a shotgun into Penticton courthouse last summer has finally had his day in court.

Criminal Justice Branch communications counsel Daniel McLaughlin said in an email Jessy Arthur Michaud entered a guilty plea to possessing a firearm without a license on Oct. 25 after being in custody for more than a year.

Michaud was sentenced to time served. He has been behind bars since his arrest in August 2015. He was also sentenced to 12 months probation and a lifetime ban on the possession of firearms.

He had been facing multiple weapons charges over the shotgun toting incident. Michaud was arrested Aug. 4, 2015 after an alert courthouse sheriff noticed him on July 13, 2015,  hiding a Dewalt toolbox he had been carrying in the courthouse in some bushes outside. A search of the toolbox revealed a loaded shotgun with extra shells.

Michaud had become restless earlier this year while awaiting trial, requesting a stay of proceedings last April because he had not received full disclosure from Crown regarding his case.

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