Boscobelle man must pay $20,000 for unlicensed weapon

A St Peter man with an unlicensed firearm has been told his crime will attract no less than a $20,000 fine or jail time.

Justice Randall Worrell also told Ramon Jamal Payne, from Boscobelle, that the High Court was looking for at least half of the amount upfront when he is sentenced and the remainder within six to nine months.

“Having a gun is very serious business. It’s either a fine or Dodds,” Justice Worrell said as one of Payne’s family members who has expressed an interest in assisting him with the fine listened. “It still has to reflect the seriousness of walking around with a firearm, especially with what is going on in the country today – that has to be reflective of that.”

Payne had pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm semi-automatic pistol without a valid licence and nine rounds of ammunition without a valid permit on April 25, 2017.

The judge said having looked at Payne’s file, he would impose a $15,000 fine for the possession of the illegal weapon and $5,000 for the ammunition.

Payne must also give the undertaking to repay family members who are going to pay the fine on his behalf.

The now-convicted man is expected to reappear before the No. 2 Supreme Court on Friday, May 28 for final sentencing.