Judge instructs teen to write about the direction he intends his life to take

A teenager who admitted to having a loaded weapon hidden in his underwear last February must write an essay for the High Court, detailing his plans for his future if released from Dodds prison.

Justice Randall Worrell put the stipulation in place after Senior Crown Counsel Olivia Davis submitted that Ranaldo Narico Roberts of Factory Avenue, Wildey, St Michael “required direction and a plan for the future”, despite the sentence imposed on him.

Roberts has one week to get the document ready and is set to reappear before Justice Worrell on April 22.

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty on Tuesday to having a .380 auto calibre pistol and six rounds of ammunition in his possession on February 22, 2021.

The prosecutor in the case, Davis, told the No. 2 Supreme Court that officers were on mobile patrol in the young man’s community when they saw him riding a motorcycle with a pillion rider. On seeing the police, the pillion rider consistently tapped Roberts’ shoulder, which caused lawmen to become suspicious.

Roberts stopped the bike and the pillion rider ran off. As police approached the teenager, he too tried to run but was apprehended. He was observed fidgeting with his pants which led to a search and a firearm was found.

“I find that last week down by the Errol Barrow Park,” he told police when asked to account for the gun, adding that the ammunition was in the weapon when he found it.

Mitigating on his behalf, attorney-at-law Simon Clarke told the court that Roberts was “not beyond reform” and if presented with an opportunity could still make a valuable contribution to society.

The defence attorney revealed that his client, who was deemed at medium risk of reoffending, had indicated several plans to earn a skill and actively seek employment on his release.

Roberts, he said, who previously worked with a family member at a carwash business, had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity, was contrite and thrown himself at the mercy of the court.

Clarke submitted that Roberts’ case fell within an “exceptional category below the normal range” as there was no evidence that the firearm was to be used in any criminal activity or connected to any crime, nor was he linked to any violence involving the use of a firearm.

He added that the mitigating factors of the offender vastly outweighed the aggravating features.

“We ask that you temper justice with mercy [and] impose a non-custodial sentence in the form of a fine of $15 000 for the firearm and $5 000 for the ammunition payable within six months …,” Clarke said.

In her submissions on sentencing, Davis said the State was of view that the offence was due to “idleness and lack of direction” on Roberts’ part and those factors should be featured in any sentence imposed.

“The State is of the view that this offender requires direction and a plan for the future and, all things considered, rehabilitation appears likely in relation to this now-convicted man. There is no impediment that I can see on the file and as such, it will be up to the now-convicted man and his future decision-making,” Davis stated, adding that the prosecution had acknowledged that Roberts was only 18 years old at the time of the crime and had no previous convictions.

The prosecutor further submitted that a starting sentence of nine years in prison be imposed with the necessary deductions, including for his guilty plea and the time he had spent on remand. Coupled with that sentence, she said, should be an undertaking of either an educational course or skills training to prepare Roberts for his return to society.

However, Davis said, if the court was minded to impose a fine on the basis that Roberts was a first-time offender, it should be in the region of $40 000 and could be adjusted when other factors are considered.

She recommended that an educational or skills training course also be a requirement if a fine is imposed, and that Roberts should return to to update the court on completion of such a course.

Justice Worrell agreed, even as Roberts revealed that he had attained no Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) certificates and planned to join Youth Service “or something so to make a better life”.

“He has to have some sort of plan, some sort of direction, and some sort of guidance as far as this court is concerned,” he said.

“Mr Roberts is going to write to the court. . . an essay as to what you intend to do with your life should you be allowed to leave Dodds. As far as the court is concerned, you are going to have to enroll in some kind of academic institution; you are going to have to do some kind of remedial learning. . . ,” the judge added.