The Crown on Monday asked the court to consider a starting prison sentence of eight years for a young man who was held with a flare gun.
Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis made the sentencing submission in the case of Shaquille Ricarla Calderon when he reappeared before Justice Randall Worrell in the No.2 Supreme Court on Monday.
Calderon of Thorne’s Gap, Land End, St Michael, had earlier pleaded guilty to having a firearm in his possession without a valid licence on December 20, 2018.
Calderon was held with a 12-gauge signal flare launcher which was capable of discharge and in good working order, the court heard.
Davis pointed to the fact that he was armed with a firearm on a public beach and later ran away from police.
She told the court a 2019 pre-sentencing report had stated he was at a high risk of reoffending.
Davis said the report also highlighted issues regarding his “background” and “home situation”, which she said had resulted in the current circumstances.
But she acknowledged several mitigating factors including his early guilty plea, his cooperation with the police and the fact that the firearm was also recovered.
“I would submit that a starting point of eight years is appropriate, that the one-third discount for a guilty plea ought to be afforded,” Davis said.
Justice Worrell adjourned the case until December 3.
Calderon is being represented by attorney-at-law Harry Husbands.
