St Philip man fined $15 000 for illegal firearm, ammunition

A St Philip man has avoided further prison time after being fined $15 000 for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, with a High Court judge ruling that a financial penalty would meet the justice of the case.

Jamar Andre John of Mangrove, St Philip admitted that on January 9, 2022, he had a .45 calibre revolver without a valid licence and five rounds of ammunition without a valid permit in the No. 5A Supreme Court before Justice Christopher Birch.  

He was sentenced to ten years before this was reduced to just over four years, after his guilty plea, mitigating factors and 162 days on remand were credited.  

The judge stated that a fine would meet justice in the case, ordering John to pay $4 000 of a $10 000 fine for the firearm immediately. The balance must be paid in nine months.  

The convicted man must also part ways with $5 000 for the ammunition in the same time period.  

Failure to pay either will result in him having to serve 1 480 days. Both sentences are to run concurrently.  

State Counsel Rommell Sandiford prosecuted the case.  

(JB)