Tyler Breslin, a 23-year-old U.S. soldier, was transferred last summer from Alaska to Georgia. He had two days to make the drive.

So Breslin was in a rush, and, as a result, “skipped a couple steps,” his lawyer, Mike Reynolds, said in territorial court Tuesday afternoon.

Appearing by phone from Georgia, Breslin pleaded guilty to two charges under the Canadian Customs Act, for not declaring a handgun and three over-capacity magazines when he attempted to cross the border.

Judge Donald Luther imposed a $5,500 fine.

Last August, when Breslin drove up to the port of entry at Beaver Creek at about 6:30 p.m., he showed his U.S. military ID and declared two rifles – a Remington 700 and a Mossberg .22 – and some ammunition.

When asked by a border agent, Breslin said he didn’t have a handgun. He filled out a non-restricted firearms declaration to transport his rifles across the border and went into the office to pay the necessary fees.

In the meantime, another officer searched his truck.

At 6:50 p.m., the agent found an empty case for a handgun in the truck’s centre console. He asked Breslin about it, and the young man admitted: “I may or may not have the gun in my truck. If I do, it’s in my bag.”

A further search turned up the components of a Ruger SR40. When assembled, they formed a complete handgun. Breslin was arrested.

Border officers also found three over-capacity magazines for an AR-15, a type of rifle.

In Canada, magazine capacities over five rounds are prohibited.

Reynolds said his client acknowledges what he did was “very stupid.”

If he could do it all over again, Breslin would declare everything in his possession, or ship the items down south before he crossed into Canada.

“He doesn’t come before the court with a concocted or fanciful explanation of what happened,” said Reynolds.

He had no intention of selling the guns in Canada, nor did he plan to stop at all in this country on his way down south.

Born in Florida, he’s accustomed to looser gun laws, Reynolds said.

The young man joined the army after graduating high school, and has since been stationed in Georgia, Alaska and Mississippi.

“He always looked up to those who served his country,” said Reynolds.

This is Breslin’s first involvement with the criminal justice system, and he wants it to be his last, he added.

Crown prosecutor Keith Parkkari said a typical fine for these offences would be $5,000 for each of the two charges.

But because Breslin is of “stable but limited” means, Parkkari and Reynolds agreed on $5,500 – $4,000 for the handgun and $1,500 for the magazines.

“Unfortunately for you, you made a bad decision contrary to Canadian law, and now you’re paying the penalty, which is going to affect your financial resources significantly for the next little while,” Luther said when imposing the fine.

He then noted Canada and the U.S.’s co-operation in past wars and said: “As part of North America, we appreciate your service to the U.S. army.”

“Thank you, sir,” Breslin replied.

He is also prohibited from having firearms in his possession in Canada for two years.

Breslin paid the fine in full Tuesday.