Cape Breton man pleads guilty to possessing police paraphernalia

A man from Cape Breton pleaded guilty to charges under the Police Identity Management Act in Sydney provincial court on Wednesday.

In May 2023, Colin James Penny was thefirst person charged under the new Nova Scotia lawwhen Cape Breton Regional Police seized pieces of police uniforms, guns and other items from his apartment following his arrest in Millville, N.S.

The act was created in responseto the April 2020 rampage, in whicha gunman masquerading as an RCMP officer killed 22 people. The act makes it illegal for people who aren't police to use equipment and uniforms to masquerade as police.

Penny was arrested on May 12, following reports of a domestic disturbance in an apartment building in Sydney, N.S.

He also faces weapons and assault charges, and isscheduled to appear in court for those charges next year.

Penny isset to be sentenced under the Police Identity Management Act in June.