The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

A 23-year-old Bahamian man was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm component when he appeared in Grand Bahama’s Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

Eckenzie Hutchinson appeared before Magistrate Olivia Blatch alongside Shakira Burrows, 48, and Jerone Mitchell, 38.

It was alleged that on August 26 in Grand Bahama, the three were found in possession of a black .99 magazine without a special licence from the Licensing Authority.

Hutchinson, who was not represented by counsel, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Burrows and Mitchell, represented by attorney Parko Deal, pleaded not guilty.

Mr Deal asked the court to withdraw the charge against his clients, pointing out that Hutchinson had pleaded guilty to possessing the magazine.

Prosecutor Davis told the court that at about 2.45am on the date in question, officers went to No. 14 Almond Road, Pioneers Loop, where they executed a search warrant.

During a search of a southwestern bedroom, officers found the firearm component inside a travel bag.

Burrows, Mitchell and Hutchinson, who were at the residence, were subsequently arrested.

Before sentencing Hutchinson, Magistrate Blatch informed him that the offence carries a penalty of between one and 12 years in prison.

Hutchinson told the court that he had returned to The Bahamas from the United States last month to renew his Bahamian passport and was staying at the Almond Road residence.

He said that while occupying the southwestern bedroom, he found the firearm component under the bed and placed it in his bag.

“It is not mine,” Hutchinson said. “I pleaded guilty because it was found in my possession.”

Magistrate Blatch considered Hutchinson’s guilty plea at the earliest opportunity, which saved the court time, as well as the fact that he had no previous convictions. She sentenced him to the minimum term of one year in prison.

Following the not guilty pleas and the presentation of the facts, which indicated that the firearm component had been found in Hutchinson’s luggage, Assistant Superintendent of Police Veron Rolle, officer in charge of police prosecutions, applied to have the charges against Burrows and Mitchell withdrawn. The charges against them were subsequently withdrawn.