-court hears of troubled life
Ezekiel Kevin Grant, 20, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday after pleading guilty to armed robbery charges.
The sentencing, handed down by Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, followed the revelation of a troubled life detailed in a probation report.
Grant, previously known in court records as ‘Kevin Charles’, grew up in an abusive household with an absent father and a mother battling alcoholism. Financial hardships forced him to drop out of school in second form, after which he lived in unstable conditions, including an abandoned house in Sophia and with friends.
The probation report revealed that Grant turned to alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana during his teenage years, which, coupled with peer influence, led to a series of petty crimes. A self-taught construction worker, Grant’s history of theft alienated family members and neighbours.
Grant’s latest offence occurred on November 30, 2024, when he and an accomplice, Dominique Eastman, robbed Davindra Singh at knifepoint. The pair stole a Samsung phone, a wallet containing $10,000, and other items. Though Grant claimed the stolen belongings were returned, he admitted to spending part of the money.
During Friday’s sentencing, Magistrate McGusty acknowledged Grant’s difficult background but stressed the need for accountability. While Grant pleaded for leniency, the Magistrate highlighted the importance of rehabilitation and urged him to utilise vocational training and other programmes in prison to improve his prospects.
This is not Grant’s first encounter with the law. Earlier in 2024, he and Eastman were implicated in another robbery involving an iPhone and cash. Grant was remanded for six months without charges in that case, and his lack of a fixed address raised concerns during bail hearings.
Magistrate McGusty emphasised that the 18-month sentence was a necessary intervention to address Grant’s repeated offences. She expressed hope that he would use his time in prison to turn his life around.
Grant will remain incarcerated until his sentence is served.