Wednesday Oct. 8, 2014 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST INCLUDED
Judge finds pair guilty Weapons charges: Hells Angels’ version of road trip falls flat. By Kathy Michaels BLACK PRESS
Justice Geoff Barrow was asked to decide, in short, if Hells Angel Joseph Bruce Skreptak was an unwitting passenger in a car loaded with weapons, or the ring leader of something much less innocent. In the end, Barrow chose the latter. On Sept. 30, Skreptak and his associate Cory Montemurro were found guilty in B.C. Supreme Court in Kelowna of five counts of possession of a restricted firearm and seven other gun-related charges. They will be sentenced next month. On Nov. 25, 2010, Skreptak was arrested alongside Montemurro on Salmon Arm’s Tank Hill. Mounties said the Jeep Cherokee driven by Montemurro was found with a cache of weapons, including loaded handguns, a sawed-off shotgun, a bulletproof vest, balaclavas, latex gloves, a baseball bat, an axe handle, knives, clubs, bear spray and a radio-jamming device.
Skreptak testified he had merely been on the hunt for a piece of real estate that would be ideal as a home for him and his then-pregnant wife. He said he became tangled in something he had no knowledge of. RCMP had indicated all the men in the car were Hells Angels, but last week outside the courtroom Montemurro’s lawyer adamantly denied the label. By his own account, Skreptak and the three other men in the car – two of whom he claimed not to know – left Kelowna with Montemurro driving about 4:30 p.m. It was snowing and, once in the back seat, Skreptak, recovering from a hangover, slept. After a stop at a restaurant where they had dinner with two men, they travelled to the property. Screptak said it was interesting to him because it was a medicinal grow op, and had a main house and a couple of outbuildings. When asked by Crown counSee Police car on page A2
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
Cache: Weapons seized from vehicle included a sawedoff shotgun, handguns and a radio-jamming device.
EVAN BUHLER/OBSERVER
A tribute to the journey Sculptor and visual artist Patrick Hughes hangs a sockeye salmon made out of household materials as part of an exhibit called Peak Year at the Salmon Arm Art Gallery.
Arnold earns Tory nod The stage has been set for the 2015 federal election in OkanaganShuswap. Mel Arnold, a Salmon Arm businessperson, became the Conservative candidate Saturday. He will go up against Liberal Cindy Derkaz, the NDP’s Jacqui Gingras and the Greens’ Dave Smith. “I am looking forward to the honour of being the Conservative candidate and building on the good work Colin Mayes and our Conservative government have accomplished,” said Arnold after nomination results were announced.
This week The Vital Signs report assesses the quality of life in the region. Check out the findings on A3. Equestrians converge on Topline Stables to wrap up their season. See A19 for more.
“Winning the candiMel Arnold in becoming dacy is now the first step familiar with every cortoward winning the next ner of this riding and the election and providing issues that are important the best representation to the constituents,” he possible to the residents said. of the entire riding.” Arnold has operAlso seeking the Conated Complete Marine servative nomination in Salmon Arm for 25 were Vernon’s Scott Anyears. He is a past-presiMel Arnold derson, Janet Green of dent of the B.C. Wildlife CONSERVATIVE Lumby and Wayne LipFederation and has been CANDIDATE pert of Vernon. involved in the Salmon Mayes, who is retiring Arm Chamber of Comas MP, is rallying behind Arnold. merce and the Shuswap Pro Devel“I am looking forward to assisting opment Association.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Time Out................... A12 Life & Times ............. A15 Sports................A19-A22 Arts & Events ... A23-A25 Vol. 107, No. 41, 52 pages