The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Staff Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

AN 18-year-old youth was sentenced to two years in prison after admitting to having a loaded rifle in his home.

He claimed he found the gun in a park.

Kervanno Brown, Lavardo Butler, 38, and Phillipa Sturrup, 44, were charged before Magistrate Lennox Coleby with possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of ammunition with intent to supply.

The courtroom was packed with relatives of the defendants.

Alphonso Lewis, Keevon Maynard and Ian Cargill represented those accused.

Police executed a search warrant on the defendant’s residence on St Lucia Crescent on August 26. Officers allegedly found a black rifle, 16 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 43 rounds of CBC 20mm ammunition in a Pampers box.

In a subsequent police interview, Brown admitted to the offence and told officers he found the weapon and ammunition in Pond Park weeks earlier.

He alone pleaded guilty to the charges. His two co-accused pleaded not guilty. The charges against the two were subsequently withdrawn.

During mitigation, Mr Lewis said Brown, his client, was gainfully employed and is an usher at his church. The attorney also stated that his young client was remorseful and is an expectant father. After claiming Brown had a clean record and admitted to the offence from the onset, Mr Lewis asked the court to be merciful in its sentencing.

While Magistrate Coleby credited Brown for his early plea, he sentenced him to 24 months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

Before being taken into remand, Brown was allowed a moment with his relatives, some of whom became emotional after his sentencing.