A skilled hunter who was relieved of an arsenal of weapons over the last few years was sent to prison recently by a Brantford judge who pondered what was going on “behind the scenes.”
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Catlin J. Hottinger, 37, of Hagersville, was originally facing almost 40 charges from two arrests – one in March 2022 and the other in August 2023.
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Hottinger was charged with multiple firearms offenses regarding safe storage and handling of the weapons in 2022.
When he was arrested in 2023, Six Nations Police said he was in a stolen car and alleged he and others in the vehicle had a loaded firearm and drugs. A subsequent search of a home on the Mississaugas of the Credit reserve turned up firearms, ammunition and stolen property.
Charges against two others in the vehicle have been withdrawn and a bench warrant was issued for two others who were also facing serious charges.
“Guns cause problems if they’re not handled properly,” said Justice Robert Gee as he sentenced Hottinger, “and one of the ways they fall into the wrong hands is when they aren’t stored properly.”
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“I had a collection,” Hottinger said.
“I purchased them all legally and, in the first search, the officers missed three guns and I voluntarily turned them in,” he explained.
“I’m ready to get this rolling and to get home to my family.”
Hottinger pleaded guilty to just two of his charges – the careless use or storage of a firearm and the possession of an unauthorized weapon.
But his sentence – which was jointly agreed on by the Crown and defense lawyers – was for about three years.
Jesse Dostal said his client saved the court “considerable time” from what would have been a complicated case.
“He understands we have laws about storing and possessing firearms that need to be followed.”
Dostal agreed that many of the weapons would be destroyed while some would be transferred to proper license-holders.
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“Mr. Hottinger engaged in hunting and tracking. He’s a skilled hunter and volunteers his time to the community by providing game to celebrate holidays.”
Dostal said since no one was threatened with the guns, and since Hottinger is a first-time Indigenous offender, the charges were mainly “regulatory” but he agreed his client should go to prison.
He also noted that Hottinger, while awaiting his trial in jail, was triple-bunked almost his entire time at Maplehurst jail and in multiple lock-downs.
After sorting out how that time would be credited, Gee sentenced Hottinger to two years in prison on top of about a year of time already served.
For 10 years, he won’t be allowed to possess a firearm, crossbow or prohibited weapons or ammunition, except if he is doing traditional sustenance hunting with a proper firearm licensee who is over 21 or while he’s bow-hunting.
@EXPSGamble
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