Judge tells gun convict he will get significant punishment

Sean Nathan Patrick-Morris was Tuesday put on notice that if a fine is imposed on him for having an illegal firearm and ammunition four years ago, it will be a hefty one.

The 35-year-old of Maynards Development, St Peter, was given the heads up by Justice Randall Worrell when he reappeared in the No.2 Supreme Court.

Patrick-Morris, alias Shawn Storm, had previously pleaded guilty to having a .45 semi-automatic pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition on September 2, 2017.

In disclosing the facts to the court, Crown Counsel Romario Straker revealed that on the mentioned date, police were carrying out traffic checks along Arch Hall Road when they observed Patrick-Morris driving a brown car towards the St Thomas Parish Church from the direction of Welches.

They signalled for him to stop the vehicle which he did, but he then sped off when they approached him.

A chase ensued but it came to an end when Patrick-Morris collided with three vehicles and stopped on the shoulder of the road.

When police approached him, they saw him in the driver’s seat with a small laceration to his nose. They asked him to exit the vehicle and requested a search of his person.

During that search, they found a white plastic bag containing a silver magazine with three rounds of ammunition in it.

When asked to account for the bullets, Patrick-Morris told police he found them “down Farley Hill in the dirt track”.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. After he was discharged, he was taken to the police station.

Police subsequently executed a warrant at Patrick-Morris’ home. While they were searching, he told them there was nothing there and promised to show them where he “had thrown the gun”.

He then directed police to Arch Hall, St Thomas where he pointed to an area on the eastern side of the highway and said: “This is where I pelt out the gun.”

Police searched the area and found a black pistol.

When Patrick-Morris was asked if he had anything to say, he told police: “That gun is mine. I pelt it out when my car crash. I had that gun for my protection cause my car get shoot through about two years ago in Speightstown.”

The facts were accepted by attorney-at-law Angela Mitchell-Gittens, who represented Patrick-Morris.

Mitchell-Gittens waived the right to a pre-sentencing report but informed the court she would be calling several character witnesses on her client’s behalf.

When Justice Worrell asked Patrick-Morris if he had spent any time on remand in relation to the offence, he indicated he had only spent a short period.

The judge then told him that based on that fact, his fine would be substantial if the court decided to move in that direction.

“Well you know if you didn’t have a lot [of time on remand] if other questions are being asked of the court you better have a lot of something else,” Justice Worrell told him.

Patrick-Morris then indicated he was presently working two jobs.

Justice Worrell adjourned the matter until January 13, 2022, when the character witnesses are scheduled to be present.