Yeoval man sentenced over cache of unregistered firearms found in repossessed
Jason William Stuart, 40, sentenced to four months prison after unregistered firearms found in his home during bank repossession.
When sheriffs cleared Jason William Stuart's Yeoval home during a bank repossession in April over unpaid mortgage, they discovered a 12-gauge shotgun in a bedroom with a shell in the chamber. Police searched further and found two bolt-action rifles inside a safe, along with ammunition.
All firearms were unregistered. Stuart, 40, had lost his firearms licence in 2023 after his car was stolen with a gun inside.
He pleaded guilty to possessing unregistered firearms, possessing ammunition without a licence, and not keeping a firearm safely. The court heard Stuart intended to hand the guns to police but "life got in the way".
He was sentenced to four months in prison.
- Jason William Stuart, 40, from Yeoval
- Age and location
- 2023, after car stolen with gun inside
- License lost
- Four months in prison
- Sentence
Why it mattersUnregistered firearms pose safety and legal risks; the case highlights enforcement of firearms laws in regional areas.
AustraliaAustralian firearms laws require registration and proper storage; breaches can result in prison time and restrictions on firearm ownership.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 d ago
