A “very social” Christ Church deejay who pleaded guilty to having two high-powered firearms and 62 rounds of ammunition at his home has accepted full responsibility, while blaming his own trusting nature and negligence for the situation he was now facing.
Jamal Neall Stapleton, 39, of Lower Silver Hill, was facing Justice Laurie-Ann Smith-Bovell at his sentencing hearing after pleading guilty earlier this year to having a 7.62×39 calibre AK-47-style ‘Mini Draco’ pistol and a 9×19 calibre Taurus semi-automatic pistol and 62 rounds of ammunition on November 4, 2024.
Stapleton said: “Because of me being a deejay and being an open and friendly person, I allowed people to enter my home. I figured that people know the type of person that I am. So they leave, and they think that if they leave something here, it will be safe and know police won’t turn up, and nobody [would] suspect [me] of having anything. That is the reason I end up pleading guilty.
“I would say guilty by association and who I allowed in my circle and in my home. It was negligence on my part because I am a trustworthy person and am a very social person.”
He told the court he had an idea who the firearms belonged to, but that person was now dead.
Three character witnesses, including his former manager at a diplomat mission, where he was a gardener for over a decade, testified on Stapleton’s behalf. Each expressed shock and disbelief at the charges, citing the convicted man’s honesty and helpfulness.
His attorney, Safiya Moore, and acting Senior State Counsel Paul Prescod both submitted a starting point of 15 years, highlighting the high-powered nature of the firearms and the large amount of ammunition. Moore asked for a three-year deduction for her client’s positive pre-sentence report, lack of previous convictions, remorse and the evidence of his character witnesses. But the State submitted that the court should deduct only two years for these factors.
Both counsel submitted that the court should also take into account his time on remand and his guilty plea.
Stapleton added: “I never expected to be in this situation at all in life. I tried my best to be a law-abiding citizen. A hard worker. Dedicated to my family and my friends. I just want to apologise to everyone. I want to apologise to the court, to my family, especially to my brothers, for disappointing them. It has been difficult.
“I accept full responsibility for the articles and for them being at my home. Even though they are not mine, I accept the position that they were found in my possession, and I accept responsibility for that reason; for that reason, I asked the court for a little leniency.
“Being incarcerated for this time, I have learned a valuable lesson for life that would carry me further through life… I know that I would never ever be a repeat offender because I have learnt my lesson, and going forward I will try my best to do better in my community and country.”
Justice Smith-Bovell will deliver the sentence on December 16.
During a search of Stapleton’s home, police found a red haversack of firearms, magazines and ammunition in a storage area near the bathroom.
At the time, Stapleton denied ownership and knowledge of the items, telling officers: “I ain’t know nothing about them. A lot of people pass through here.”
The ammunition comprised 27 9mm cartridges and 35 AK-47 cartridges.
(JB)
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