A man charged with more than a dozen firearms offences after guns were found at his Temora home has escaped full-time custody.
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Kodey Turton was this week sentenced to 15 months' jail in Wagga Local Court, but will instead serve the time in the community by way of an intensive correction order (ICO).
Magistrate Christopher Halburd ordered Turton, 32, to serve the ICO after convicting him of 15 charges, including 13 firearms offences, possessing a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited article.
The charges followed a police raid on June 30, during which officers located a number of gel blasters.
The court heard one of the gel blasters was found on the floor of a room directly next to his 10-month-old son's bedroom.
The gun had "the full characteristics of a genuine military assault rifle" and had a magazine containing gel balls attached. Gel blasters are classified as air guns under the Firearms Act.
Two more gel blasters were found inside a caravan in a rear shed - one resembled a MAC-10 submachine gun and the other a M4 Carbine assault rifle.
Officers also found a set of metal handcuffs, which court documents said were well weighted and could be described as shackles, as well as a box of 500 air rifle pellets inside the caravan.
A search of a car at the home uncovered a 'BSA' 0.177 calibre air rifle, break action and barrel wrapped inside a white collared shirt.
Turton was arrested and admitted to having the gel blasters but told officers he was unaware it was an offence to do so. He faced court on July 1, when he pleaded guilty to all 15 charges.
During sentencing on Wednesday, the court heard Turton, a shearer, bought the weapons online via a "misleading" website.
His solicitor, David Barron, said he was now aware he should have checked the legality of the items and would use this incident to "spread the word" about their illegality.
Turton also conceded he placed his son at some risk by having the weapons around.
Magistrate Halburd was asked to consider an ICO with significant community service and said Turton could abstain from illicit substances.
The court heard Turton was on the waiting list for a Canberra-based rehabilitation program. "He has taken that very important step," Mr Barron said.
In sentencing, the magistrate said jail was the only appropriate penalty but acknowledged Turton had taken steps towards rehabilitation.
However, he said a message needed to be sent that gel blasters were treated as real firearms and anyone who saw them would think they were the real thing.
Turton was ordered to complete 150 hours of community service, undertake rehab, and abstain from alcohol and illicit drugs.
He was also placed on an 18-month community correction order for possessing an unregistered firearm and fined a total of $2000 for having ammunition without a licence, acquiring an unregistered firearm and not keeping a firearm safely.
Turton was fined a further $200 for possessing a prohibited drug after a resealable bag containing 1g of methamphetamine was found.
