There's a reason why guns and ammo need to be stored properly, a judge told a Goulais River man this week.
Sometimes people can be injured by accessing these things, Ontario Court Justice Andrew Buttazzoni said on Thursday, and that's why firearms and ammunition must be stored so they are not accessible.
Justin Shuttleworth pleaded guilty to possession of three rifles without a licence, as well as careless storage of the weapons and some ammunition.
The offences occurred on Feb. 5.
A woman contacted the Ontario Provincial Police about a text she had received from the accused, who wanted her sister removed from his residence.
Officers went to his home, assistant Crown attorney Stuart Woods said.
"He wasn't there but the sister was," and they noticed a Winchester rifle hanging on a wall.
She told them there were more firearms in the house.
The cops also located a Browning rifle, as well as Chiappa rifle, Woods told the court.
The Browning and 20 rounds of ammunition, which was in a Ziploc bag, were in a bedroom.
Defence lawyer Bruce Willson and the Crown jointly called for a conditional discharge, 12 months probation and a two-year weapons prohibition.
All the items "were seized without a warrant" and "there were search issues that could have been argued at trial," Willson told the court.
Woods described the offences as "more regulatory" ones.
The weapons are going to be forfeited "so they won't be a danger to the public," he said.
Shuttleworth has a record, but there are no other firearms offences.
Buttazzoni told the lawyers he didn't have a problem with their submission.
He imposed the conditional discharge, which means no conviction will be registered.
During his year-long probation, Shuttleworth must keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
He is banned from possessing weapons for 24 months.