Even judge seems surprised that farmer Ronald Greene’s charge was just for not having a licence
Ronald Greene can’t return to his farm without being accompanied by his sister, under a condition placed on him for at least three months after he pleaded guilty Oct. 3 to owning a .22 rifle without a licence.
Farmers Forum staff
OTTAWA — It’s a cautionary, and scary, tale for any senior farmer with an old groundhog gun and little time for the paperwork changes that have occurred over the decades.
Because he neglected to take out a firearms’ licence for his single shot, bolt-action .22 rifle when the rules changed years ago, 71-year-old farmer Ron Greene spent four months in Ottawa’s notorious jail but also needed 18 months of probation on top of that, in the eyes of the court that accepted his guilty plea and released him Oct. 3. Lacking a gun licence was the only charge that was brought against Greene in the end, and to which he pleaded guilty in front of Justice Marc Labrosse.
The judge accepted the Crown’s submission that sentencing the farmer to six months in jail plus the probationary term was necessary to deter others from breaking the law. Greene was given extra credit for each of the 124 days he spent in pre-trial custody following his May 27 arrest at his Carp-area farm, which equates to six months served in jail.
Crown attorney Moiz Karimjee told the court that “deterrence, specific as well as general deterrence, is achieved by time served in custody” in Greene’s case, according to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by Farmers Forum. “And if there’s 18 months of probation, that will address the public safety and … also assist Mr. Greene in rehabilitation to the extent required,” Karimjee added.
The Carp-area farmer had been held at the Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre since May 27, one of three men locked up together in a two-bunk cell and rarely let outside or into the common areas of the jail, according to a paralegal who regularly spoke with Greene. Including his Oct. 3 release date, it technically amounted to 130 days behind bars. The discrepancy (124 days versus 130) may be due to time he spent in hospital after experiencing a medical issue, although this wasn’t addressed in court.
Greene’s arrest came four days after the stress of seeing provincial animal welfare police (PAWS) show up at his farm to round up dozens of cattle, but those authorities quickly relinquished the animals when they turned out to be healthy and owned by somebody else. The farmer was not charged with any animal welfare-related offences.
Ottawa police took Greene into custody in response to an individual’s report of overhearing the farmer allegedly utter threats against other individuals. But that was later dropped.
The Crown, presenting a summary of facts to the court, reported “some dispute in relation to PAWS … and within that context certain threats were perceived to have been made against certain individuals.”
The police, exercising a search warrant, “located and seized a loaded bolt action rifle in the trunk of vehicle known to be driven by Mr. Greene,” Karimjee said.
“Are they — is it just — is the charge really just relating to not being the holder of a valid licence?” the judge asked.
“That’s right. I understand that this is the kind of firearm which some older farmers still carry,” the Crown replied.
Greene agreed with the statement of facts and pleaded guilty to the single count of owning the rifle without a licence.
The farmer previously told Farmers Forum, in a call from the jail, that he purchased the .22 in 1975 when no licence was required.
While he’s now out, Greene can’t be described as truly free.
As part of his probation, he can only visit his farm while accompanied by his sister, Sandra Greene, a condition the court will revisit in January. He’s also barred from communicating with “PAWS investigators, veterinarians or other employees, except by phone, email or his sister.” And he can’t communicate with a number of other named individuals without the written consent of his probation officer. Green is also banned from owning a firearm for five years.
Greene would have avoided much of his grief had he taken the $300 PAL (possession and acquisition licence), three-evening course. He also would have been eligible to get his PAL with little more than a signature when the regulation first came out in the 1990s.
