St James Resident Handed $26,000 Penalty for Unlicensed Gun and Bullets

A man from St James who settled $26,000 in court-imposed penalties for keeping an unlicensed revolver and ammunition received a severe warning from a High Court judge to avoid returning on similar charges.

St James Resident Handed $26,000 Penalty for Unlicensed Gun and Bullets

A man from Haynesville in St James has been told by a senior judge never to appear before her again on weapons charges, after he paid off $26,000 in court-ordered penalties for possessing an illegal handgun and live rounds.

Justice Pamela Beckles issued the caution to Ramon Michael Thomas once the No. 5 Supreme Court confirmed his fines were fully settled. She stated plainly that any future conviction on a firearms offence would carry an automatic prison term.

The previous year, Thomas — who had no prior criminal record — was ordered to pay $20,000 for holding a .22 calibre revolver without a valid permit on 13 August 2022. Had he failed to pay, he would have spent 527 days in custody. Separately, he was fined another $6,000 for the bullets, with a six-month jail sentence as the alternative.

Court records showed that police went to Thomas's dwelling with a warrant. During their inspection of the kitchen, they spotted a nutritional supplement tin on the fridge. Hidden inside was a loaded .22-calibre revolver containing seven rounds. Nearby, officers recovered five more projectiles wrapped in paper.

The Crown was represented by Acting Senior State Counsel Maya Kellman.

Source: Barbados Today

Source: Barbados Today