NORTH BATTLEFORD – An Onion Lake man, who was arrested by the Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force and General Investigation Section (GIS) in a high-risk take-down, has been sentenced to federal penitentiary time.
The trial for Harley Shawn Dillon, 26, was set for June 13 in North Battleford Provincial Court, but instead he pleaded guilty that day.
Dillon was handed federal prison time for charges out of North Battleford and Saskatoon. His charges of assault with a weapon were waived from Saskatoon Provincial Court to North Battleford Provincial Court on June 12.
The Battlefords RCMP Gang Task Force was doing proactive patrols on Sept. 28, 2023, when they saw a stolen Dodge Ram in the 1800 block of St. Laurent The truck had been reported stolen out of Warman. Dillon, along with 25-year-old Blair Ryan Chief of Scott, and Kalyn Thomas of North Battleford, were arrested.
When police searched the vehicle, they found a loaded sawed-off rifle.
Dillon was charged with numerous offences. He pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of property obtained by crime, possession of a weapon contrary to an order, driving while prohibited and personation with intent.
For the North Battleford and Saskatoon charges, Dillon was given a global sentence of 3.5 years or 1,270 days.
The Crown entered a stay of proceedings on several charges, including participating in a criminal organization, three weapons related offences, and impersonation.
Chief was sentenced in March to 36 months in jail on charges of possession of a firearm in a vehicle, dangerous driving, driving while prohibited, obstruction of a police officer, and failing to comply with an undertaking.
He was given 252 days pre-trial credit. He was also ordered to provide his DNA to the National DNA Data Bank, and prohibited from owning firearms for life.
Thomas, now 22, is back in North Battleford Provincial Court Aug. 24.