By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 21-year-old man was accused yesterday of threatening the lives of three women with a handgun outside a bank in Oakes Field last week.
Prosecutors allege Ashton Forde threatened Ciara Hield, Mandeisha Archer and Erica Pratt with a handgun outside Commonwealth Bank on the morning of August 6.
Later that day, at about 9.20pm, police stopped Forde, Jamero Tony, 23, and Montez Rolle, 24, on Hutchinson Street.
A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered one unfired 9mm round.
Forde was also allegedly found with six additional 9mm rounds concealed in his left shoe.
Forde was charged with three counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition.
He, Tony and Rolle also faced a shared charge of possession of ammunition.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty to the ammunition charges before Senior Magistrate Algernon Allen Jr.
Forde was not required to enter a plea to the firearm charges and was informed that the matter would proceed to the Supreme Court by way of a voluntary bill of indictment (VBI).
Because the firearm charges are indictable, Forde was informed of his right to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.
Tony and Rolle were each granted $1,500 bail with one or two sureties.
Tony must sign in at the Nassau Street Police Station every Monday and Wednesday by 6pm, while Rolle must report to the Carmichael Road Police Station on the same days and by the same time.
Forde’s VBI is scheduled for service on December 15. The ammunition trial for all three defendants is also set to begin that day.
Mark Penn represented the accused.
Inspector Timothy Bain prosecuted the case.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.