Kevin George and Samuel Johnson, the two teens charged after being found with an unlicensed M-16 assault rifle, a quantity of matching ammunition and grenades on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt in January this year, were yesterday each ordered to serve three-year jail sentences.
Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, who presided over their trial at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court One, also fined George, 18, and Johnson, 17, $100,000 each.
The magistrate handed down a three-year prison sentence for each of the two charges of unlicenced gun and ammunition possession, but explained that the sentences will run concurrently. The grenade-possession charges against the duo had been previously struck out.
George, of 21 Castello Housing Scheme and Johnson, of 158 Curtis Street, Albouystown, were found guilty after their trial was completed recently but sentencing was deferred until yesterday to facilitate a probation report on the teens.
The charges against them stated that on January 22, at Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, they had in their possession an M-16 rifle and 61 rounds of .233 M-16 ammunition without a licence.
They had denied the charges when they were read to them at their arraignment on January 24.
It was the police’s case that the teenagers were in the vicinity of Penny Lane on Aubrey Barker Road, when at about 11:15am when they were spotted by ranks on patrol in the area.
According to Police Prosecutor Michael Grant, police ranks thought the two looked suspicious.
The ranks, Grant said, noticed George handing a haversack to Johnson, who immediately threw it back to him and George subsequently dropped the bag on the ground. Subsequently, the police ranks approached them and conducted a search.
The rifle, grenades and ammunition were discovered in the bag, Grant said, before adding that after the interception of the items, the teens were arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station and further investigations were carried out, leading to them being brought before the court.
