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Guilty pleas have been entered for two people charged in connection to events at the Coutts border blockade in 2022. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

Two Coutts protesters plead guilty to firearms-related offences

Feb 6, 2024 | 3:38 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Two people who were charged in connection to events at the Coutts border protest in early 2022 have entered guilty pleas.

In Lethbridge Court of King’s Bench on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, Christopher Lysak and Jerry Morin were freed from custody following the pleas.

Morin pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to traffic firearms while Lysak admitted to possession of a loaded firearm in an unauthorized place.

The pair have been behind bars since being arrested in February 2022, so with credit for time already served, they were free to go.

Detailed in an agreed statement of facts, Morin had travelled from his home in Olds to an area near the Coutts border crossing and participated in protests in opposition to COVID-19 health mandates between February 9-14, 2022.

RCMP officers on scene took part in an undercover investigation upon hearing reports that there was a conspiracy to deliver firearms, ammunition and other equipment to a group referred to as the “Co-Conspirators” to be used for a criminal purpose.

A member of the “Co-Conspirators” informed Morin that there was an RCMP checkpoint near Milk River and used coded language to ask him to bring firearms and ammunition to the protest. Morin agreed to do so.

On the night of February 13, the undercover officers saw Morin arrive in his truck at a field near the main site of the blockade, which was located past the RCMP checkpoint in Milk River. The agreed statement of facts does not provide any details on what happened beyond this point.

A separate agreed statement of facts outlines the events involving Lysak. Leaving his home in Lethbridge to attend the Convoy protest in Coutts, Lysak packed his suitcase and also brought his Remington rifle model 700 and ammunition bag “so he could hunt coyotes if he found himself idle and bored.”

In January 2022, the RCMP was investigating mischief and attempted to determine any leadership figures at the protest. They believed that a so-called “Security Group” was responsible for the presence of firearms at the event and began a series of searches to locate any potential guns.

During the convoy protests, Lysak stayed in a trailer in Coutts. On February 10 or 11, he emptied out his ammunition bag so that he could use it for laundry. However, he discovered that he had accidentally packed a Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun in the bag.

“Mr. Lysak panicked and placed the handgun under a pillow in the trailer,” read a portion of the agreed statement of facts.

Members of the RCMP had obtained a search warrant for several properties, including the trailer in question.

The officers located Lysak’s rifle, handgun and ammunition. It was later determined that, while Lysak had valid permits for both guns, he was not authorized to posses the handgun in that location.

Morin and Lysak, along with co-accused Anthony Olienick and Christopher Carbert, were arrested between February 13 and 14, 2022.

The four are also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Their trial is scheduled to begin on May 27.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now

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