Austin sentenced on gun, ammo, criminal damage and other charges

Glebe Land, St George resident Darron Denico Austin who was brandishing a loaded gun during a Foreday Mornin’ Jam on August 5, 2017 has been sentenced to time in prison.

Madam Justice Pamela Beckles handed down her ruling today via a Zoom hearing while Austin listened from HMP Dodds.

The facts of the case which were previously detailed revealed that police responded to a report of a man brandishing a firearm on Hincks Street, St Michael where the Crop Over event was taking place

Austin tried to run away from the police but was quickly apprehended, subdued and the gun was found in his pants’ waist.

Austin indicated his action was for the firearm to be a deterrent and warning to enemies who might have been in attendance at the time.

Madam Justice Beckles gave him a starting sentence of eight years in jail and three years for the two rounds of illegal ammunition. But after taking into consideration the aggravating and mitigating factors the judge adjusted the starting sentence on the firearm up by a year.

“The firearm in this case was not discharged but that many persons were exposed to danger by you brandishing that firearm. The aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors,” the judge said.

She then credited him for his guilty plea and the time he has spent on remand leaving Austin with 1 672 days left to serve for possession of the firearm and 212 days for the ammunition.

The convicted man had also previously pleaded guilty to stealing and damaging a camera belonging to the Crown and valued BDS$13, 860 from Nursery Drive. The incident occurred between January 4 and 5, 2013.

He was sentenced to five years on each count.

After taking into consideration the guilty plea and time already spent on remand at Dodds, Austin only has 699 days remaining on each charge. Those sentences will also run concurrently.

Today, Austin also pleaded guilty to an offence under the Precious Metal Act.

Crown Counsel Rudolph Burnett told the court that the prosecution was not seeking any more time in prison on the charge. The Crown accepted the 518 days that the convict had already served on remand as penalty for that crime.

The No. 5 Supreme Court heard that Adeline Carrington was walking along Hardwood Alley, Bridgetown, St Michael on January 10, 2014 around 9 a.m. after disembarking from a vehicle. She suddenly felt someone hug her around the neck from behind and took the two bangles she was wearing on her right hand before fleeing.

Austin, the prosecutor said, was not the person who actually took the complainant’s property but was present at the time. He took the bangles from his co-accused and went to La Romana Gold Incorporated on Broad Street in the City. The business operates as a precious metal and second-hand metals dealer.

He told the attendant that he was the owner of the bangles and he was desirous of selling them. After filling out the necessary documents he was paid $610 via a Republic Bank cheque.

Austin will spend another 1 672 days at Dodds starting today.

The judge told the convict to enroll in skills or vocational programmes at the prison in order to acquire a skill or trade, “to enhance” his ability to seek gainful employment on release.

Austin, who has 14 prior convictions, was represented by attorney-at-law Safiya Moore. He must also undergo psychological interventions and counseling programmes as recommended by the prison.