City man charged with printing 3D guns back in custody

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This article was published 16/05/2023 (844 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Manitoba judge has revoked bail for a man accused of making and trafficking 3D-printed guns.

Jackson Prince, 18, was charged with multiple offences, including two counts of weapons trafficking, after a lengthy Winnipeg police investigation that culminated in a search at a Boyd Avenue apartment on March 31.

Police seized 3D-printed handgun receivers, a 3D-printed AR-15-style rifle that looked like a Nerf toy gun, various firearms parts, illicit drugs and a 3D printer.

Provincial court Judge Brian Corrin had granted Prince bail, despite the Crown’s objection, during a lengthy hearing on May 5. Crown attorney Vanessa Gama outlined the “strong” police case against him, and read highlights of more than 7,500 text messages reportedly exchanged between Prince and another man who allegedly sold the illegal guns as part of their partnership.

On Monday, Gama applied to have bail revoked by a Court of King’s Bench justice, arguing Corrin had made an error in law and that his decision was inappropriate.

Among Corrin’s reasons for granting Prince bail was that he believed him to be unlikely to re-offend, saying on May 5 he thought Prince’s arrest would dissuade others from working with him criminally.

Gama told Court of King’s Bench Justice Shawn Greenberg on Tuesday that Prince had allegedly continued to make the guns despite his associates being arrested, and that a gun he’s accused of making was seized by RCMP.

Greenberg disagreed with Corrin’s decision and denied Prince’s bail after an hour-long hearing.

“I find there is a substantial likelihood that… Prince will re-offend and that he poses a serious risk to public safety. I say that with due regard to the fact… Prince has no criminal record and is entitled to the presumption of innocence. I say that because of his attitude toward illegal activity and his continued activity in the face of the threat of being caught,” Greenberg said.

“The charges against… Prince are extremely serious. He’s alleged to have been actively involved in the manufacture and sale of not simply handguns, but handguns with semi-automatic and automatic capacity. These are weapons that pose a significant risk to public safety.”

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera