Dangriga Teen Jailed 30 Months After Admitting to Firearms and Ammunition Charges

An 18-year-old construction worker from Dangriga has been sentenced to 30 months in prison after pleading guilty to six firearms and ammunition charges stemming from a police operation last week.  Jaheem Bernardez, a resident of the Bak-Ah-Town area, appeared in the Dangriga Magistrate’s Court, where he admitted to two counts of keeping a firearm without a gun license and four counts of keeping ammunition without a gun license.  The charges followed a police search conducted on July 9 at a residence on Yampa Street in Dangriga. Officers attached to the Gang Intelligence, Investigation and Interdiction Unit reportedly discovered two 9-millimetre pistols, a Stoeger and a Smith & Wesson, along with 49 rounds of ammunition.  Bernardez was sentenced to 30 months in prison for each of the firearm offences and 18 months for each of the four ammunition offences. Senior Magistrate Mannon Dennison ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning Bernardez will serve a total of 30 months behind bars.  Bernardez was represented by attorney Ivan Williams, who asked the court to consider a non-custodial sentence. The Senior Magistrate, however, determined that imprisonment was warranted, citing the prevalence of gun violence and the need to deter others from possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.  Five other men who were jointly charged pleaded not guilty. They are 18-year-old Dorian Kenneth Fernandez, 19-year-old John Anthony Melendez, 27-year-old Moses Anthony Bobb, 24-year-old Vincent Maximo Melendez, and 26-year-old Washington Jaheem Melendez.  The prosecution did not withdraw the charges against the five men, who have been remanded to the Belize Central Prison. They are scheduled to return to court on October 14, when disclosure is expected to be provided.  Police say the firearms and ammunition were discovered during an intelligence-led operation at a residence where the six men were reportedly present at the time of the search.