By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A FATHER was sentenced to two years in prison in court yesterday after admitting to having a loaded gun when he was arrested in front of his children in December of 2021.
Richard Bowles, 47, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney for sentencing on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition.
Around 3.45pm on December 11, 2021, officers on mobile patrol stopped Bowles’ white vehicle as it was travelling east on Baillou Hill Road near Meeting Street. With his three young daughters in the backseat of the car, a search of the accused led to the discovery of a silver and black coloured .40 Taurus pistol. Inserted in this gun was a loaded magazine with ten live rounds of ammunition.
During an earlier court date, Sergeant Kevin Ellis testified that when arrested Bowles said he had the gun for his own protection.
Bowles had initially pleaded not guilty to the offence, but changed his plea to guilty in his last court appearance. The magistrate had delayed sentencing so that Bowles could get his affairs in order.
Magistrate McKinney ordered Bowles to serve two years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services on the firearm charge. He was further sentenced to a year for the ammunition charge. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
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