PEI

Not guilty pleas entered for former RCMP officer Jeffrey Gillis

A lawyer acting on behalf of Jeffery Rae Gillis has entered pleas of not guilty to all charges against the former Mountie.

Jeffrey Gillis faces firearms and other charges after weapons seized

Jeffrey Rae Gillis was not in court today. A lawyer entered pleas of not guilty to all charges against the former RCMP officer. (CBC)

A lawyer acting on behalf of Jeffrey Rae Gillis entered pleas of not guilty to all charges against the former Mountie Monday in Charlottetown provincial court.

Gillis, 43, was not present as lawyer Jonathon Coady entered the pleas on his behalf.

Gillis faces 12 weapons related charges after police say more than 70 firearms were seized from his P.E.I. home in February.

Shotguns, a revolver and a semi-automatic pistol are among the firearms listed in the criminal charges.

Coady also entered not guilty pleas on Gillis' behalf to charges of assault and uttering threats in an unrelated incident.

Prosecutor seeks early trial date

Gillis is also charged with breach of trust for falsely reporting the destruction of firearms to government agencies.

The Halifax-based Serious Incident Response Team investigated the incidents and has filed a report with the P.E.I. department of justice and public safety.

An RCMP spokesperson in Charlottetown has said Gillis retired in February.

Coady informed court that Gillis has elected to have the charges tried in provincial court. All the charges are indictable, so Gillis could have elected to transfer the case to P.E.I. Supreme Court for trial by judge or jury.

Crown attorney David O'Brien told court the prosecution is seeking an early trial date.  

Judge Nancy Orr adjourned the case until August 29.