Kevin DonPedro Chandler has been ordered to pay $25 000 in fines for having an illegal gun and ammunition.
The Hillaby, St Andrew resident had to pay the No. 3 Supreme Court $15 000 forthwith for having the unlicensed firearm while he has three months to pay the remaining $10 000, for having the ammunition, if he wants to avoid spending the remaining three years of an eight-year starting sentence behind bars.
Chandler had pleaded guilty to having a 9mm semi-automatic and 12 rounds of ammunition on September 9, 2016.
In relaying the facts, Senior State Counsel Neville Watson told the No. 3 Supreme Court that police were on duty along a road in St Thomas conducting traffic stops when they observed Chandler driving a vehicle. With siren on, they followed him into Proute Tenantry where he came to a stop at a cul-de-sac and got out, leaving the driver’s door open.
When he was detained and consented to a search, lawmen found the firearm.
“Cha man ****, I don’t believe this,” Chandler reportedly said when the illegal weapon was discovered with 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
When told of his right to a lawyer, the now-convicted man told police, “It don’t make sense because I going to be remanded anyway; it is a waste of money.”
In his sentencing submissions, Watson had said a starting sentence of eight years in prison should be imposed, with deductions for Chandler’s guilty plea, the time he had spent on remand, and the delay in hearing his case.
However, the prosecutor also said the imposition of a fine would meet the justice in Chandler’s case. Those submissions were agreed to by defence attorney Angella Mitchell-Gittens.
“I want to apologise to the court for my actions . . . . Give me a chance to get back out there to support my children,” Chandler said moments before the sentence was imposed.
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