R. v. Filian-Jimenez, 2014 ONCA 601

ENDORSEMENT

1The trial judge gave carefully considered reasons for imposing a sentence of 18 months on the offences of unlawful possession of a loaded restricted firearm and possession of a firearm knowing that its possession is unauthorized. The Crown seeks leave to appeal the sentence.

2While this is a clearly a very low sentence, we are not persuaded that the trial judge erred in principle. He identified factors that in his view justified imposing a relatively lenient sentence. The respondent had repudiated his membership in a gang, entered an early guilty plea, was engaged in full time employment and had fundamentally changed his lifestyle. He had the gun because shots had been fired at his house and he feared for the safety of his mother and his girlfriend with whom he shared the house. While possession of a gun for protective purposes is certainly not to be condoned, the trial judge accepted that the respondent did not have the weapon for any other purpose. The trial judge’s assessment of the respondent and his prospects is entitled to deference in this court. While this is a very low sentence in the circumstances, it is not manifestly unfit.

3Accordingly, we grant leave to appeal but dismiss the appeal from sentence.