Alan Dean Chinn pleaded guilty to possession of a prohibited firearm with ammunition and possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking in Yellowknife Supreme Court Thursday.

On Nov. 12 after information that Chinn was selling marijuana out of his bachelor apartment at 46 Woodland Dr. the RCMP obtained and executed a search warrant.

Under a pillow just an arms reach from where Chinn was sitting officers found a loaded 12-gauge sawed off pump-action shotgun with a pistol grip.

During a search of the tiny apartment officers seized more than 1,500 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, digital scales, two seven-inch hunting knives tucked into the side pockets of a chair, five other knives, several other weapons and $1,100 in cash.

Crown prosecutor Shannon Smallwood said Chinn advised police he was selling pot to supplement his disability income of just over $500 per month. Chinn suffers from severe kidney failure and has to undergo dialysis five times a day.

Chinn has 23 prior convictions on his criminal record. Two are drug-related but date back to the 1970s.

Defence lawyer Michael Hansen said Chinn stored the weapons in his apartment because he is in a weakened state and would not be able to protect himself from pot clients who often tend to not play by the rules.

Justice Ted Richard said he sympathized with him because of his condition and resulting immobility, but said Chinn has to go to jail for his crimes.

In addition to the 15-month sentence Chinn was ordered to forfeit the cash seized at his residence, a switchblade, two seven-inch hunting knives and another weapon.