A New Amsterdam man was on Monday sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to a break and enter and larceny charge. The charge read against Donald Hartman, 43, of Charles Place, New Amsterdam, Berbice, stated that on December 8, at Silver Hill, Linden, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Harold Martin and stole a .32 automatic pistol and eight live matching rounds along with a quantity of other items and cash, amounting to $346,000 in total value.
Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that Martin, a licensed firearm holder, secured his home and left for Georgetown to conduct business. Upon his return later the same day, he noticed a door to the southern side of his house ajar and he later discovered the interior of his house ransacked.
He reported the break-in, which led to the arrest of Hartman, who was found with a number of the stolen items. The gun and ammunition, however, were missing and Hartman claimed that it was stolen from him by someone he could not identify because he was intoxicated at the time.
He was subsequently sentenced by Magistrate Ann McLennan.
