The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

Tribune Court Reporter

pbailey@tribunemedia.net

ONE man was sentenced to two years in prison, while another man was acquitted in connection with the same firearm charge in a Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Jawon Charlton, 23, represented by Attorney Ryszard Humes, and Anwar Lightbourn, 22, both stood before Senior Magistrate Derence A Rolle Davis for sentencing in their firearm and ammunition trial.

On January 11, 2021, the pair were arrested after a police stop of their vehicle resulted in the discovery of a black Taurus 9mm pistol. During this incident Lightbourn, the driver of the vehicle, along with another male remained in the vehicle after authorities stopped them only for Charlton to get out of the car and flee the police.

Charlton would eventually turn himself over to police and the gun was found in his possession.

In view of previous testimony by the pair’s arresting officers, Magistrate Rolle Davis found Lightbourn not guilty of the firearm and ammunition charges. This was on the basis that the gun was not found in his car and as such Lightbourn was acquitted.

As for Charlton, as police investigations confirmed that the gun recovered in the defendant’s possession was capable of firing, the Magistrate found him guilty of the firearm charge. However, Charlton was acquitted for the ammunition charge.

During his plea of mitigation, attorney Humes said his client was a young man with no prior convictions and that Charlton was remorseful for his actions. Mr Humes asked that in view of Charlton having already spent 14 months on remand that the court would take time served into consideration in levying its sentence. Charlton’s attorney also cited his prior clean record as well as saying that his client wanted to turn over a new leaf and plans to change his life as reasons for the magistrate to be lenient.

The magistrate in his conviction of Charlton sentenced him to serve two years at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services from the date of his ruling.

Before being taken into custody, Magistrate Rolle Davis informed Charlton of his right to appeal his sentencing within seven days.