By Jada Chambers
A 42-year-old New Montrose man who pleaded with the court for mercy, saying he recently “gave my life to the Almighty God” has been jailed for three years on firearm and ammunition charges.
Cordewell James had the unlicensed revolver and 10 rounds of ammunition hidden inside a face mask in his bedroom.
He appeared before Chief Magistrate Colin John at the Serious Offences Court, charged with possession of a Taurus .38 Special revolver with an unknown serial number, and 10 rounds of .38 ammunition without a licence under the Firearms Act.
James pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court for leniency, requesting a fine instead of prison time.
He told the court that he felt “embarrassed” because he should have already taken care of the matter, adding that his father had reminded him to turn in the weapon.
However, Colin John noted that penalties for firearm offences have increased significantly, telling James he would be imprisoned rather than fined.
The court heard that on Oct. 4, at around 6:10 a.m., police officers, including PC 206 Morgan, executed a joint operation at James’ home in New Montrose.
The officers, who had a search warrant, met James at the residence.
After the warrant was read and shown to him, James consented to the search. Nothing illegal was found on his person and the search shifted to his bedroom.
PC Morgan searched the bedroom in the presence of James and PC 73 Jack, and spotted a plastic container with a cover on the ground.
On opening the container and removing several pieces of clothing, PC Morgan discovered a heavy black plastic bag.
Inside the plastic bag was a black face mask bearing a red symbol, wrapped around a heavy object.
When unwrapped, police discovered a silver metallic object resembling a firearm containing six rounds of ammunition, alongside a transparent plastic bag which contained five rounds.
PC Morgan pointed out to James the offence of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
Under caution, James told the officer: “Officer is forget I forget I had it there. Ah done change me life and baptised and ah bin done plan fu throw it way, and bin thinking to bring it in, but ah was fraid alyo wudda lock me up.”
James was informed of his right to legal representation but remained silent.
The investigation found that he did not have a licence to possess a firearm or ammunition and that the Station Sergeant of Police Julian Cain examined the weapon and found it functional and the ammunition to be live rounds.
During the arraignment, Prosecutor Renwick Cato informed the court that investigators also recovered one spent shell alongside the live rounds of ammunition.
In passing sentence, John noted the quantity of ammunition, including the single spent shell that James claimed he did not use.
The chief magistrate established a starting point at 50% of the 10-year maximum penalty.
While there were no aggravating factors of the offence or the offender, the court factored in a previous firearm-related conviction where James was incarcerated in Guyana.
Mitigating factors included James’ genuine remorse and his cooperation with the police.
Following a one-third discount for his early guilty plea, John settled on a 39-month prison sentence for the firearm offence and ordered that the weapon be confiscated. For the ammunition charge, James was sentenced to one year in prison.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Before handing down the final orders, John reminded James of the high number of gun-related homicides committed this year, adding that the court must send a strong deterrent message to the public.
“We can’t just slap you on the wrist,” the chief magistrate said, rejecting James’ final plea for a non-custodial or a one-year prison sentence.