CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – US-national and resident of Nevis John Andrews was today (July 15) sentenced to six years in jail by Magistrate Claudette Jenkins in the Charlestown Magistrate’s Court.
Andrews, who pleaded guilty to possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, received three years on each charge but will serve three since the sentences run concurrently.
Andrews appeared in court in May after police officers discovered the items in his home in January. The charges against his wife, Cheryl Andrews, were withdrawn in May and sentencing on her husband was deferred until June 17 pending a social report requested by defense attorney Jason Hamilton.
The couple was charged on January 15 after a search of their Hamilton Estate home unearthed one .22 caliber rifle, 323 rounds of .22 ammunition, one BB rifle and a pack of BB pellets.
Police officers, who went to execute a search warrant on the premises for drugs, firearms and ammunitions, were told by Andrews that he has a rifle but he does not deal with drugs.
Andrews was asked to produce the rifle and subsequently gave it to the police. He shouted to his wife that the police were there with a warrant and he was giving them the rifle. According to police reports, the wife shouted back, “Make them bring back the rifle.”
Andrews also handed over the ammunition. He told the police that he uses the rifle to shoot monkeys.
Both were arrested and charged.
