No jail time for Cardston gun shop owner who pleaded guilty to firearms offences

Dec 9, 2019 | 9:15 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The owner and president of K & D Implements Ltd. who pleaded guilty to four firearms related offences in September, has been handed a 13-month Conditional Sentence Order (CSO) and a $20,000 fine that will have to be paid off during that time.

60-year-old Dean Dan Sommerfeldt and his son Todd were originally facing 19 charges dating back to April and May 2017, after undercover officers who were members of ALERT and NWEST purchased guns and ammunition at his gun shop without providing proof of a valid Possession and Acquisition License (PAL). At the conclusion of proceedings Mon. Dec. 9, the remaining charges against the elder Sommerfeldt and  his son were stayed by the Crown.

During sentencing, the Court of Queen’s Bench Justice told the elder Sommerfeldt while he displayed exemplary behaviour in many aspects of his life, including a 35-year position as a local Scout Leader, heading a support organization for parents who are raising children with disabilities, and garnering 220 letters of reference, there was overwhelming evidence he broke the law on several occasions.

Sommerfeldt pleaded guilty to three counts of transferring without the authority, weapons (restricted or not), ammunition to anyone other than under the authority of the Firearms Act, along with one count of contravening storage, handling, transportation, shipping, display, advertising or mail-order sales of firearms and restricted weapons.

The Crown in the case asked for a one-year jail term, followed by several conditions, while the Defense hoped for a one-year CSO.

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As the judge handed down his sentence, he told the court “Dean Sommerfeldt did not bend them (laws) a little bit. He outright broke the law,” adding that the offences could have had catastrophic consequences if the guns and ammunition sold to undercover officers had gotten into the wrong hands.

As part of his Conditional Sentence Order, Sommerfeldt must abide by several conditions including a 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew, he may only leave his home for approved health or dental appointments, shopping, religious services or community service work he was taking part in prior to his sentence. He may not leave the province of Alberta and may not go to his recreational property.

Sommerfeldt is also prohibited from owning any firearms for 5 years, must also submit a DNA sample and forfeit any goods seized by police during their investigation. His son Todd has been prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms for the next four years.

by Lara Fominoff