(CMR) Jerry Daniel Archer, who pleaded guilty to possession of an unlicensed firearm following a raid of his home earlier this year, was on Friday, 3 November, sentenced to seven years in prison.
Archer also pleaded guilty to possession of seven rounds of ammunition, ganja, and a grinder. He was sentenced to one year for possession of ammunition and seven days for the drug offenses.
Police, acting on intelligence, raided his home in Bodden Town on 29 April. During the raid, Archer walked outside with the gun in his pocket and told the police that his family knew nothing about it.
Archer reportedly told police after his arrest that he found the firearm in a tool bag he inherited from his late stepfather, Carlos Renton Russell, an alleged gangster who died in 2021.
He said he wanted to hand over the gun to the police but was afraid of being accused of any crime. The court heard that he was waiting until there was a gun amnesty to hand over the gun.
During his sentencing on Friday, the court heard that the gun had not been linked to any crimes and that Archer was of good character and did not have any run-ins with the police.
However, Justice Cheryll Richards noted that it was a loaded firearm in working order, which he had in his possession for two years. She also said that he made no attempts to contact the police.
Justice Richards said while there was mitigation, there was nothing exceptional about the offense or offender to justify a reduction in the minimum sentence of seven years.
As a result, the minimum sentence of 7 years was imposed, with time served to be taken into consideration. The sentences are to run concurrently.
The gun was ordered forfeited to the crown to be destroyed as there are no lawful owners identified.
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