A Claxton Bay man who claimed he found a loaded gun while drunk during the Christmas season was spared a jail term yesterday.
Instead, Tony Jeffrey, 28, was ordered to pay $10,000 in fines for possession of pistol, which was loaded with six rounds of ammunition.
Jeffrey, the father of two girls, pleaded guilty to the two charges when he appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Nanette Forde-John in the San Fernando First Court.
He was arrested by PC Davin Nagessar of the St Margaret’s Police Station on Wednesday, at Hilltop Avenue, Claxton Bay.
Prosecutor Cleyon Seedan said around 3.05 pm the officer, along with his colleagues, while on patrol received a wireless transmission and proceeded to Hilltop Avenue.
Jeffrey who was standing on the road then looked at the police vehicle and began acting suspicious. When Nagessar approached and searched him, the officer found a black firearm in his front pocket of his trousers.
In pleading for a non-custodial sentence, defence attorney Ainsley Lucky said: “In the midst of holiday merriment he had in a few and he saw these objects and took possession of them.
“So in Claxton Bay you could just see guns just so?” the magistrate asked.
Lucky said Jeffrey, a skilled labourer, had one previous conviction for smoking in a restricted area. He said his client was community oriented as he coaches little children in his neighbourhood in football and cricket.
In passing sentence the magistrate said, “It is really unfortunate that guns can be found so easily, that’s why we are where we are today, a lawless society.”
He was ordered to pay $2,000 immediately and was given him 60 days to pay the balance.