Loaded sawed-off shotgun nets four years in prison
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A 32-year-old man was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday after Brandon police searched his home and found he was in possession of a loaded sawed-off shotgun contrary to a weapons ban.
Officers in the organized crime section arrested Abraham Mecas around 11 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2025, and executed a search warrant at his Ninth Street home shortly after midnight, federal Crown prosecutor Ken Hawkins said in Brandon’s Court of King’s Bench.
“In his bedroom, they found a sawed-off shotgun that was loaded with ammunition. They also found a variety of other things,” Hawkins said.
The Brandon courthouse. (File)
Mecas pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited firearm with ammunition and possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order issued in December 2022.
Five other charges were stayed, including three counts of possession for the purpose of drug trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime and possession of a firearm knowing its possession was unauthorized.
The guilty pleas were a plea bargain and resulted in the cancellation of a three-day trial that was scheduled to start on Tuesday.
Defence lawyer Greg Sacks said his client has treaty status in Waywayseecappo First Nation and has struggled with addiction.
“He ran away from home when he was 12 and was essentially fending for himself from that point on. Both of his parents are residential school survivors,” Sacks said.
“We see here, unfortunately, the echoes of colonization.”
He said Mecas plans to focus on rehabilitation and access resources available to him in custody.
Both counsel jointly recommended the accused face a three-year sentence for possessing the shotgun followed by one year for breaching his weapons ban.
Mecas has been in custody since his arrest and was denied bail in May 2025. He has 962 days with enhanced credit for time served at the Brandon Correctional Centre and will spend another 16 months behind bars.
The accused has prior convictions involving drug trafficking offences and failing to comply with court orders, Hawkins said.
Justice Elliot Leven accepted the joint recommendation and ordered Mecas to submit a sample of his DNA and be subject to a lifetime weapons ban.
“I agree that it’s fair and reasonable and logical under the circumstances,” he said.
“We must consider the offender and the offence. Deterrence and denunciation are very important.”
» tadamski@brandonsun.com