Farmer gets 13 years for illegal guns

THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD KARON Williams, a farmer of Samuel Prospect district in Trelawny, who recently pleaded guilty to three counts of illegal possession of firearm and five counts of illegal possession of ammunition, was sentenced to 39 years’ hard labour when he appeared before the Home Circuit Court in Kingston last Friday.

Williams was sentenced to seven years for possession of a .40 pistol, 12 years for possession of an M16 assault rifle, 13 years for possession of an AK-47 rifle, and seven years for possession of ammunition.

The sentencing will run concurrently, so Williams will serve a maximum of 13 years at hard labour.

Detective Inspector Simeon Hamilton, acting crime officer for Trelawny, told The Gleaner he was pleased with the sentence.

“This is another successful day for the Trelawny police, and we are very pleased with the result of the sentencing,” he said.

“Let this be a warning to all criminals in the parish. We want them to know that were are coming after them in full force, and we will not stop until we have rid the parish of all criminals and criminal elements.”

Reports by the Trelawny police are that about 11:30 a.m. on January 15, a team of officers were carrying out an operation along a section of the Carey Park main road, when they intercepted a motor car in which Williams and another man were travelling.

A search of the vehicle and the men resulted in the seizure one .40 semi automatic pistol, fitted with a magazine containing seven live rounds

Both men were then accompanied to their homes in Samuel Prospect district by the police team, where two assault rifles – an AK-47 and an M16 – along with 52 rounds of ammunition were seized at Williams home.

The men were then taken to the Trelawny lockup. After questioning, Williams was charged and the other man released.

Williams is also facing additional charged of possession of personal information and is to appear in court at a later date to answer to these charges.