By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Prince George Citizen

Firearms Offences

Decision on evidence ends firearms case against local man

Nov 2, 2025 | 3:00 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Crown counsel stayed charges Oct. 23 against a 36-year-old man accused of firearms offences.

In Prince George Provincial Court, Matthew Douglas Sweder was facing charges of careless use or storage of a firearm, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, possessing a firearm without licence and/or registration and occupying a vehicle while knowing a firearm is present. The charges stemmed from a Dec. 3, 2023 incident in Prince George.

Had there been a conviction just for the possession charge, Sweder could have been jailed for up to 10 years.

The BC Prosecution Service (BCPS) blanket policy is to not disclose the reasons for directing a stay of proceedings, except when the Assistant Deputy Attorney General decides it is in the public interest.

BCPS communications counsel Damienne Darby said the decision about Sweder was made after a voir dire, a hearing for a judge to decide whether certain evidence can be admitted.

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“After reviewing the evidence and the rest of the file materials the prosecutor concluded the charge approval standard was no longer met,” Darby said. “In these circumstances a stay of proceedings is the appropriate course of action.”

Back in August, Prince George RCMP sought Sweder after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Sweder had previously been sentenced to seven days in jail and probation for a year in 2022 for resisting a police officer and breaching a release order. In 2019, he was sentenced to a 70-day conditional sentence and 18 months of probation for mischief under $5,000 and assault.