Man accused of warding off snowmobilers with rifle sees charges set aside

Charges against a 25-year-old Island man who police allege used a semi-automatic firearm to ward off snowmobilers have been set aside after he signed a courtorder agreeingto several conditionson Friday.

Lucas Owen Younker was arrested and charged with careless use of a firearm and possession of a prohibited weapon in February.

The charges came after two snowmobilers complained that a man dressed in camouflage came out from hiding with an assault rifle in an effort to ward them off a property.

• 2 arrested after assault rifle used to ward off snowmobilers, say RCMP

Police later learned a similar incident had taken place just days before,allegedly involving Younker and 30-year-old William James Huestis.

In that case, police allege one of the men fired a gun into the air when snowmobilers approached a barricade they had erected.

Charges against Huestis were also set aside last month after he agreed to similar conditions.

The conditions imposed on Younker include keeping the peace, surrendering any firearmsto police, and having no contact with Huestis.

Cindy Wedge, the director of P.E.I.'s Crown Attorney'sOffice, wouldn't get into specifics about why the Crown stopped pursuing charges against Younker and Huestis. She did say thatallegations made by the RCMParen't enough to lead to a conviction.

"Allegations are just allegations.It comes down to what can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. You look at the evidence," said Wedge.

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