Update:
The trial dates for a Tatla Lake man facing multiple weapons charges were set Wednesday in Williams Lake provincial court.
There will be a pre-trial on Sept. 24, while trial dates have been set Dec. 1 and 2, and Jan. 26 - 29.
Original story:
A Tatla Lake man has pleaded not guilty to all 24 charges against him, ranging from possession of weapons to careless use of a firearm.
Gerald Kirby, 63, entered his plea in Williams Lake Provincial Court Wednesday while in attendance with an agent appearing on behalf of his defence lawyer, David Jenkins.
Kirby also elected to be tried by provincial court judge alone.
His case is adjourned until April 9, when a trial date will be set.
Last August, Crown Counsel laid charges against Kirby as a result of a Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC investigation, CFSEU-BC.
"In early June 2013, CFSEU-BC received a tip that the man, a long-time resident of Tatla Lake, was trafficking firearms and prohibited devices. CFSEU-BC began an investigation and it was uncovered that the man was allegedly selling assault-style semi-automatic rifles with over-capacity magazines, amongst other guns and weapons," CFSEU-BC said in a press release at the time.
Kirby was arrested at his home, located in the 16400 block of Highway 20, on Aug. 23, 2013, and a search warrant resulted in police finding and seizing 183 firearms of various makes, models, and calibres, along with tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition and prohibited devices such as over-capacity magazines, CFSEU-BC said.
The charges include four counts of possession for the purpose of weapons trafficking, four counts of weapons trafficking, three counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm and three counts of possession of a firearm knowing its possession is unauthorized and 10 counts of careless use of a firearm.
Kirby has no previous criminal record and is currently not in custody.