A Red Deer man has been found guilty in connection with a shoplifting incident involving a gun at Bower Place Shopping Centre on Oct. 8.
Provincial court Judge David Plosz found 35-year-old Brett Christopher Morgan guilty on Thursday of possession of property under $5,000, robbery with a firearm, and using an imitation firearm while attempting to commit an indictable offence.
The trial occurred on Nov. 18 and Plosz adjourned his verdict until Thursday.
Morgan had also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified in connection with the October incident.
The Crown withdrew two charges of theft under $5,000, as well as pointing a firearm.
During the trial, security officer Crystal Howse testified that she saw Morgan on closed-circuit television loading bedding material into a shopping cart at The Bay. She approached him outside and that’s when he took a handgun from under his jacket.
Howse said that Morgan held the gun high when he aimed it at her face and tilted it sideways while approaching her within a metre.
She denied it was a cellphone as the defence suggested.
Morgan testified he was only grabbing his cellphone because it was falling out of his jacket as he was trying to enter his car.
Morgan was arrested the following day while sleeping at home.
A pre-sentencing session will take place on Feb. 2 in Red Deer provincial court.