Woman gets 14 months in jail for firearm possession

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This article was published 23/05/2025 (307 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A woman who Brandon police caught with three rifles received a 14-month jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to possessing multiple firearms in the Court of King’s Bench on Thursday.

Crown attorney Caroline Lacey and defence lawyer Jennifer Janssens presented a joint recommended sentencing range of 12 to 15 months for 26-year-old Natasha Elk’s offences.

While they agreed on the range, Lacey urged Justice Scott Abel to sentence Elk to the higher end at 15 months. Janssens asked for 12.

Lacey read out the facts to which Elk pleaded guilty.

While Brandon police officers patrolled 20th Street on June 5, 2022, they came across a suspicious man and woman drinking a can of vodka soda behind a residence, court heard. One of the officers made contact with the suspects.

The officer immediately identified Elk. The man that was with her gave the officer a fake name, but later revealed his real name was Sylas Audy — a co-accused who also pleaded guilty.

While the officer was interacting with Elk and Audy, he noticed a brown truck parked directly behind the residence where the two were drinking. When he walked toward the truck, he noticed cans inside that were the same brand of vodka soda that the suspects were drinking.

At this point, the officer saw a rifle in the front passenger seat, said Lacey.

The two were arrested. When officers searched the vehicle, they found two other firearms. Police later found out these firearms had been taken from a break and enter unrelated to this offence.

Police later obtained video surveillance that identified a third co-accused, Addison Laroque.

The Crown pointed out that dealing with firearms is always a serious offence and during this time Elk was out on bail for another charge.

As for mitigating factors, both Lacey and Janssens agreed that Gladue factors were prominent.

Elk’s grandmother was a residential school survivor. Elk’s mother, who was in the courtroom, is from Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and had an alcohol addiction throughout Elk’s childhood. Her father left the family early in Elk’s life because of his own addiction struggles, said Lacey.

“She grew up viewing substance abuse and first used herself very early on, which continued into adulthood,” said Lacey. “We know that those things often stem from the intergenerational effects of colonization.”

Janssens said Elk lost her partner to suicide in 2021, adding that she believes this had long-lasting effects that have impacted her decision making.

Elk’s mother has now been sober for more than 15 years, and Janssens said she is “in an excellent position to be a role model for Elk.”

She also said that Elk has had time to focus on her sobriety while she has been in custody for the last 89 days. Elk told her that she goes to every Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that’s available and is working through several work booklets on sobriety.

Co-accused Laroque, who the Crown said had a lengthier criminal record, received an 18-month sentence, and Audy received a 15-month sentence.

» sanderson@brandonsun.com