Ex-Navy Seal escaped imprisonment in Libya, finds self in custody in Saskatchewan
By Heather Polischuk, Leader-Post July 23, 2014 7:23 AM
"REGINA — A former Navy Seal who fought his way to freedom in Libya found himself in custody in Saskatchewan after he was caught trying to cross the border into Canada with three handguns.
Richard Peters, 66, appeared at Regina Provincial Court on Tuesday, one day after he was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at North Portal. The Indiana resident pleaded guilty to a weapons smuggling charge under the Customs Act and received a $3,000 fine.
Court heard Peters will also face civil penalties, his truck having been forfeited as a result of this incident.
Agent for the federal Crown Paul Malone said Peters pulled up to the border crossing Monday morning, hauling a camper trailer he was intending to deliver to someone in Alberta during a three-day trip. CBSA officers questioned the man, including on whether he had any guns, ammunition or firearms parts with him. He said he did not.
But when officers searched Peters’ property, they found that wasn’t the case. Court heard a Smith & Wesson .45-calibre handgun with a loaded magazine, an extra loaded magazine for that gun, and a loaded Derringer-style pistol were found in a backpack, while a Kel-Tec handgun was found in the centre console of the truck, also loaded.
Defence lawyer Tony Orlowski said his client didn’t realize the guns couldn’t be brought into Canada, adding that Peters was admitting that he hadn’t been honest with border security officers.
“It was simply a terrible mistake for him to do that,” Orlowski said.
Court heard Peters was held prisoner in Libya while working as a contractor there. While Peters didn’t have much to add to what his lawyer said, he told the court he spent about six months in solitary confinement during his capture there before he finally escaped.
In a 2011 interview with Agence France-Presse, Peters said: “I just started running and doing front snap kicks at the door. After 25 or 30 of them, it blew the whole door out. Thank you, lord, for poor construction.”
Peters told Judge Dennis Fenwick on Tuesday that he remained in Libya for another two years and that he’s been back home for eight months."
Lets see 66 now. Libyan Civil War started in 2011 that would make him a 63 year old service SEAL!! Damn the Navy is really getting its money worth.
By Heather Polischuk, Leader-Post July 23, 2014 7:23 AM
"REGINA — A former Navy Seal who fought his way to freedom in Libya found himself in custody in Saskatchewan after he was caught trying to cross the border into Canada with three handguns.
Richard Peters, 66, appeared at Regina Provincial Court on Tuesday, one day after he was arrested by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers at North Portal. The Indiana resident pleaded guilty to a weapons smuggling charge under the Customs Act and received a $3,000 fine.
Court heard Peters will also face civil penalties, his truck having been forfeited as a result of this incident.
Agent for the federal Crown Paul Malone said Peters pulled up to the border crossing Monday morning, hauling a camper trailer he was intending to deliver to someone in Alberta during a three-day trip. CBSA officers questioned the man, including on whether he had any guns, ammunition or firearms parts with him. He said he did not.
But when officers searched Peters’ property, they found that wasn’t the case. Court heard a Smith & Wesson .45-calibre handgun with a loaded magazine, an extra loaded magazine for that gun, and a loaded Derringer-style pistol were found in a backpack, while a Kel-Tec handgun was found in the centre console of the truck, also loaded.
Defence lawyer Tony Orlowski said his client didn’t realize the guns couldn’t be brought into Canada, adding that Peters was admitting that he hadn’t been honest with border security officers.
“It was simply a terrible mistake for him to do that,” Orlowski said.
Court heard Peters was held prisoner in Libya while working as a contractor there. While Peters didn’t have much to add to what his lawyer said, he told the court he spent about six months in solitary confinement during his capture there before he finally escaped.
In a 2011 interview with Agence France-Presse, Peters said: “I just started running and doing front snap kicks at the door. After 25 or 30 of them, it blew the whole door out. Thank you, lord, for poor construction.”
Peters told Judge Dennis Fenwick on Tuesday that he remained in Libya for another two years and that he’s been back home for eight months."
Lets see 66 now. Libyan Civil War started in 2011 that would make him a 63 year old service SEAL!! Damn the Navy is really getting its money worth.
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