A Merritt RCMP officer is facing several charges related to breach of trust and firearm offences.
According to the BC Prosecution Service (BCPS), the charges stem from events that allegedly happened in Merritt and Kamloops between Feb. 1, 2020 and May 19, 2023.
Cst. David Paul Feller was charged on Thursday and is due back in court on Nov. 18 in Merritt.
A publication ban has been imposed so details are limited.
However, the BCPS included some of the specific charges in a news release. They include:
one count of breach of trust, contrary to section 122 of the Criminal Code;
two counts of possessing firearms obtained through the commission of an offence, contrary to section 96(1) of the Criminal Code;
two counts of storing firearms contrary to the Firearms Act regulations, contrary to section 86(2) of the Criminal Code;
one count of possessing unloaded restricted firearms with readily accessible ammunition, contrary to section 95(1) of the Criminal Code; and
one count of possessing restricted firearms at an unauthorized location, contrary to section 93(1) of the Criminal Code.
“The charges were approved by an experienced Crown Counsel who has no connection with the accused,” the BCPS said.
The BCPS also said the charges were approved in accordance with assessment guidelines, which is used to determine whether this is a substantial likelihood of conviction and, if so, whether public interest requires prosecution.
Feller is also facing charges for five counts of assault, two counts of uttering threats, one count of assault causing bodily harm and one count of assault by choking from alleged events that happened between May 2020 and March 2021.
According to the BC Court Services online portal, the trial for the previous charges is scheduled to get underway on Nov. 4.
Feller made local news headlines in late 2021 when he was praised for rescuing abandoned animals after the City of Merritt was evacuated due to severe flooding in November 2021.
