Ramon Michael Thomas has been fined a total of $26 000 for having an illegal firearm and 12 bullets three years ago.
Justice Pamela Beckles ordered the Haynesville, St James resident to pay $20 000 for having a .22 calibre revolver without a valid licence on August 13, 2022. Of that amount, $7 500 is due immediately, with the balance to be paid within three months or Thomas will face 527 days in prison.
The first-time offender was also fined $6 000 for possession of the 12 rounds of ammunition, which must be paid within six months, or he will serve six months in prison.
“Unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition are serious offences for which Parliament intended should be visited with stiff penalties, clearly signalling society’s intolerance and disapproval for such offences, as this type of behaviour endangers society,” Beckles stated in the No. 5 Supreme Court during sentencing.
Saying the offences were serious enough to warrant custodial sentences, Justice Pamela Beckles set starting points of seven years for the illegal firearm and five years for the ammunition.
In determining the appropriate sentence, the judge said the principles of individualised sentencing were applied, noting that “the gravity of the punishment must be commensurate with the gravity of the offence” and that “the length of the sentence must be proportionate to the harm done.” This involved assessing the aggravating and mitigating factors related to both the offences and the offender.
Among the aggravating factors were the nature and seriousness of the offences, the fact that the firearm was loaded and functional, the presence of live ammunition, that the weapon and bullets were concealed in a private home occupied by others, Thomas’ attempt to evade police, and the wider prevalence of such crimes in society.
In his favour, the judge acknowledged Thomas’ early guilty plea, his youth at the time of the offence, and his expressed remorse.
Justice Beckles made a downward adjustment of one year to each starting point after considering a favourable pre-sentence report, the fact that the firearm had not been used by Thomas, and that it was not linked to any other criminal activity.
Noting that Thomas had already spent 933 days on remand and had no prior convictions, she ruled that the remainder of the sentence be substituted with a fine.
Thomas, who represented himself in the proceedings, will return to court for a review of his progress on September 26 and December 19.
The court heard that police executed a warrant at Thomas’ residence on August 13, 2022. During a search of the kitchen, they discovered a protein powder can on top of the refrigerator containing a .22-calibre revolver loaded with seven rounds. Five additional bullets were found wrapped in paper nearby.
Senior State Counsel Kevin Forde prosecuted the matter.
The post $26 000 in fines for first-time offender appeared first on Barbados Today.
