(ASHLEY LEGASSIC / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Ezra Adair had been drinking heavily the night of Aug. 20 when he took his rifle outside of his trailer and fired six shots, before threatening the trailer park's manager.

The 61-year-old Kamloops man lived in a mobile home park on Ord Road with his wife. Kamloops Provincial Court heard today, Feb. 1, that Adair and his wife had gone out for dinner on Aug. 20, 2016 and Adair had several glasses of wine.

He had been upset that day due to an argument with a neighbour over a lawn-watering matter and was frustrated after receiving a "clean up" notice from the trailer park's manager.

When they returned to their trailer that evening, Judge Christopher Cleaveley says Adair had taken five shots of rum. He told his wife to call police, grabbed his rifle and went outside.

Cleaveley says lawyers have described this incident as a "mental breakdown" for Adair, who had no criminal record before that day. 

Adair fired six shots from his rifle and threatened to kill the trailer park manager. He then took the ammunition out of his gun and repeated the threats, before a neighbour intervened.

Police arrived and arrested Adair. He was granted bail three days later and Cleaveley says he has not breached his bail conditions since.

Crown prosecutor Andrew Duncan had asked for a six month jail sentence followed by two years of probation and defence lawyer Murray Armstrong had asked for a conditional discharge.

Cleaveley decided neither of those sentences would be right for Adair. Although Adair has taken several programs for his alcohol addiction and mental health issues, Cleaveley said he still needs to be punished for his serious actions.

"Since the offence date, Mr. Adair has remained sober," Cleaveley said. "I do not believe Mr. Adair could have done more in the last five months."

A pre-sentence report for Adair suggests he is a low risk to reoffend.

Cleaveley gave Adair a suspended sentence, which means he will have a conviction on his record but will not have to serve his sentence in custody. Adair pleaded guilty last year to possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, careless use of a firearm and uttering threats.

Adair will be placed on a two-year probation period. He will be allowed to move back into the trailer park with his wife, but has been ordered to not contact the park manager other than to apologize.

Under his probation he will not be allowed to drunk, possess weapons or enter liquor stores, bars, or anywhere else minors are barred from.

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