Marayong man Cary William McDonald jailed on several firearms and weapons charges
A pump-action shotgun Cary William McDonald “got from a couple of blokes in the Belanglo State Forest” was found under his bed by police, leading time behind bars for the Marayong man.
Penrith
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A man who kept a pump-action shotgun under his bed with a round in the gun will serve at least two years and six months behind bars.
Cary William McDonald, 48, of Marayong, was sentenced by Judge Mark Buscombe in Penrith District Court on Thursday morning on several firearms and weapons charges.
According to court documents, police searched McDonald’s home in Marayong in February, at which time he told police there was a shotgun and ammunition.
He told police the gun wasn’t racked and loaded, but there was a round in the weapon. Police found the shotgun under a mattress, and later testing showed it was in working order.
When police asked McDonald where he’d received the shotgun, he told them he’d bought it from a “couple of blokes in the Belanglo State Forest”.
Police also found an illegal knife, two Tasers, a pair of handcuffs, an extendible baton and a ballistic vest hanging inside a blazer.
McDonald did not hold a licence to own any of the items, and he declined an interview after his arrest.
He pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal firearm, possessing an illegal firearm, and seven counts of possessing an illegal weapon.
Judge Buscombe said McDonald, who has been in custody since February, showed genuine remorse for his crimes, had been a good inmate and had positive prospects of rehabilitation.
He said McDonald had acknowledged the impact he’d had on family, and the potential impact on any victims had the weapons been used.
However, Judge Buscombe said the firearm was particularly serious.
“It was a pump-action shotgun that was loaded and in working order,” he said.
“It wasn’t secured, and he had possession of it while using drugs.”
Judge Buscombe said that while McDonald had a limited criminal history there was a need for both general and personal deterrence in sentencing.
“The community is very concerned about firearms and weapons, and significant sentences must be imposed,” he said.
“The only appropriate sentence is full-time imprisonment.”
McDonald was convicted and given a four-year jail sentence with a two year and six month non-parole period.
He will be eligible for release in August, 2021.