Saturday, July 23, 2011

Canada - Five years for man caught up in Courtice gun, drug bust

OFF THE WIRE
JEFF MITCHELL
 newsdurhamregion.com
Charges withdrawn against others
OSHAWA -- A man who admitted to possessing guns and drugs seized by cops during a raid last year in Courtice has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Noah Renison pleaded guilty Thursday in Oshawa to four counts, including unauthorized possession of a gun, tampering with a serial number and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking. Mr. Renison was also ordered to provide a DNA sample and given a lifetime weapons prohibition.
Mr. Renison was one of a number of suspects charged after the Durham police gang unit, assisted by the OPP's organized crime and biker units, executed a search warrant at a property on Hwy. 2 in Courtice in October 2010. Police seized two handguns and two long guns, as well as a quantity of marijuana, according to a statement of facts read into the record by prosecutor Lara Crawford. Also seized were several other weapons and Hells Angels paraphernalia, court heard.
During a subsequent search at a residence on Park Road in Oshawa, cops arrested Mr. Renison, seizing brass knuckles and other weapons.
In June of this year, Mr. Renison gave a statement to police in which he claimed possession of the guns and drugs. Charges against two other men -- Anthony Psilopoulos and Michael Renison -- were withdrawn, Ms. Crawford said.