Man armed against ‘conspiracy’ sent to prison

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This article was published 08/06/2022 (1554 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A judge sent a man to prison for four years on Wednesday morning after he was caught with a loaded, shortened shotgun in his truck meant to defend himself against what he says is a wide-ranging “conspiracy” against him.

Brian Geer was found guilty of possessing a loaded prohibited firearm without a licence, two counts of improperly storing or transporting a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, resisting arrest and possessing a firearm without a licence for an incident in Killarney in 2018. Geer pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was convicted after a February 2021 trial of having a shortened Remington 870 Wingmaster 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded Remington 7600 6mm pump action rifle, along with live ammunition, in his truck.

“A defining feature of Mr. Geer’s circumstances is his belief that there is a conspiracy involving him and his family, which has existed for years. It involved the government, the police and the courts, amongst others,” Justice Sandra Zinchuk said, adding Geer believes the safety of himself and his family might be at risk.

“He indicated at trial he had guns to address this risk and that he keeps them loaded because he wants them ready to fire.”

On Aug. 3, 2018, Killarney RCMP responded to a report Geer was seen with a shortened shotgun in the Westman town.

Police saw a firearm sitting on the seat when they found his vehicle, the court heard during his trial.

There was an altercation between Geer and the police during the arrest, and officers had to take him to the ground.

Police found the loaded guns and ammunition in his vehicle and Zinchuk noted the guns had rounds chambered.

The next day, police obtained a search warrant for Geer’s home, where they found a loaded Remington 870 Wingmaster 12-gauge shotgun in a gun case under the bed in the master bedroom. Officers also found nine live shotgun shells.

During his three-day trial in November 2020, Geer told the court he believed there was a grand conspiracy against him, which stretched to the highest levels of the Canadian and American governments and the courts.

Geer cited examples of the alleged conspiracy during his testimony, including the RCMP refusing to investigate a dead dog he found in his garage, repetitive problems in his farming operation and damage to his vehicles after he brought them in for repair.

In another incident, he said he went for a root canal, but the dentist swabbed his mouth with a virus that made his mouth feel like it was on fire.

Geer sat quietly while Zinchuk read her decision Tuesday and leaned forward in his chair.

Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup recommended a sentence of four years in prison, while Geer — who represented himself in the trial — asked for a conditional sentence order, arguing he has followed all court orders since his initial arrest.

While there is a range of sentences available for the crimes, Zinchuk said a conditional sentence order in the case would be “wholly inappropriate.”

“He is not someone who made a mistake,” Zinchuk said.

“Mr. Geer made a deliberate and calculated choice to possess a sawed-off shotgun and travel with it loaded and chambered in the back seat of his truck … He wanted these weapons to be ready to fire. There is no excuse for this alarming and dangerous conduct. It cannot be tolerated.”

She also noted that shortened shotguns can’t legally be purchased, so he would have had to buy it like that or make it himself.

Zinchuk sentenced Geer to four years in prison in totality for the crimes, including three and a half years for possessing a loaded prohibited firearm. She also sentenced him to four months for each count of unlawful transportation of a firearm concurrent to each other, two months for careless storage of a firearm and one day each for obstructing a peace officer and possession of a firearm without a licence.

Geer was taken into custody by Manitoba Sheriff officers at the end of the hearing.

Zinchuk also banned him from owning firearms and ammunition for 10 years and to submit a DNA sample to police.

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