Court in Kindersley on September 2 was dominated this week by the case of a man who pleaded guilty to possessing a restricted firearm with ammunition.
Johnathon Benusic entered the plea Monday, months after a previous trial in April 2025 where he was convicted of commercial vehicle offences. The firearm charge stems from the same incident in May 2024, when RCMP stopped him outside Kerrobert for a traffic check.
During that stop, police said inconsistencies in his logbook led to a search of his truck. Officers reported finding a loaded .357-calibre Magnum revolver on the sleeper bed, along with 38 rounds of ammunition.
Benusic was initially charged with four weapons-related offences. In court, prosecutors argued the loaded weapon posed a risk of death or serious harm. Defence counsel said Benusic carried the firearm for self-defence, telling the court he had previously been shot at while driving commercial vehicles at night.
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Although Benusic had a possession and acquisition licence, the Judge determined he did not have authorization to carry a restricted firearm outside his residence. Judge Cardinal told the court “this isn’t the wild west,” stressing the risk of carrying a loaded restricted weapon without proper storage.
The Crown sought a conditional sentence of nearly two years, while the defence argued for 60 to 90 days. Judge Cardinal ultimately imposed a 15-month conditional sentence order with a nightly curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., except for employment purposes. The order also included a ban on drugs and alcohol and required personal counselling.
Benusic is prohibited from owning firearms for 10 years, from possessing restricted firearms for life, and must forfeit the revolver. He was also ordered to pay a $200 victim surcharge and complete 100 hours of community service.
Other cases before the court were adjourned. Shane Schmidt, charged with theft of a Kindersley regional park vehicle and mischief, had his matters moved to Sept. 16. The Kennedy matters were adjourned to Oct. 21 to allow time for disclosure review.