Gun smuggling charges for Markel Chiles, former U.S. judge
A former Arizona judge who had to resign in disgrace was allegedly caught with two handguns at the U.S.-Canada border.
Markel Kay Chiles, 56, was arrested at the Huntingdon border crossing in British Columbia in May, allegedly carrying a pair of .22-calibre, multi-barrelled handguns: a Texas Defender and a Cobra C22M.
Americans who fail to declare their guns appear regularly on Canadian court dockets, but few have a history like Chiles, who sat as justice of the peace in Mesa, Ariz., until last year.
In a case that shocked the town, Chiles was caught on surveillance camera stealing a $40 speaker from Wal-Mart last April.
Police went so far as to release a video of them questioning him in his office, captured on their mandatory shoulder cameras.
In the video, Chiles denies everything. He resigned last May and was fined $300 for shoplifting.
On Thursday, Chiles appeared in Abbotsford provincial court and now faces seven counts, including gun smuggling and making false statements.
Chiles could not be reached for comment.
