A man who allegedly entered the territory illegally was sentenced to three months in prison Friday in Magistrates’ Court.
Police found Kennyson Daniel, a native of St. Lucia, while they were searching the home of Fat Hogs Bay resident Kevin Moorehead, according to Police Information Officer Diane Drayton.
Officers reported finding a 0.22-calibre semiautomatic rifle, as well as a box containing 23 nine-millimetre bullets there. Mr. Daniel was charged with illegal entry because he could not show evidence that he entered the territory illegally, and Mr. Moorehead was charged with harbouring a person along with the charges for an unlawful firearm and ammunition.
The maximum penalty for illegal entry is a $1,500 fine and 12 months imprisonment.
Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste-DaBreo decided to reduce the sentence considerably to three months, explaining that most matters involving similar infractions lead to a sentence of three to six months. She added that the defendant’s guilty plea was a mitigating factor.
The magistrate told Mr. Daniel to enter the Virgin Islands legally if he comes again.
“When you come into another man’s country, you follow the proper procedures no matter how inconvenient they may seem,” she said. “Rules are in place for the reason of control.”
Mr. Moorehead, who pleaded not guilty to his charges, faces trial in September.