Divine deliverance

WESTERN BUREAU:

A United States pastor charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition by the Jamaican police walked scot-free out of the Western Regional Gun Court in St James on Friday morning, after being admonished by Justice Martin Gayle.

The apostolic preacher, Timothy Acree, of a Kentucky address in the United States, arrived on the island with his firearm last Saturday, October 1, declaring he was carrying the 9mm pistol on his Customs declaration form.

It appears the officer who dealt with him did not notice the declaration.

Acree cleared Customs and drove to Ocho Rios, St Ann, where he attended a conference at the Moon Palace Resort for five days with more than 200 other members of his group without a permit.

On his way out of the island, Thursday, October 6, he again declared the gun, this time to the passenger service representative at the Southwest Airlines counter in the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

The airline sought the assistance of the police, who arrested Acree, charging him with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Acree’s entire family, including a six-year-old, were taken into custody, but were later released into the hands of attorneys-at-law Clayton Morgan and Henry McCurdy.

The case has opened up a can of worms for the new Firearms Act, which provides for a minimum prison sentence of 15 years – and up to life – for persons convicted of gun crimes.

Acree is also not the only visitor to have come to Jamaica in recent years unaware that it is illegal to carry a firearm into the country without a permit.

In September 2021, another visitor to the island, social media sensation Jayda Cheaves and a member of her entourage, Gregory Wright, were arrested and charged at the Sangster International Airport for carrying a 9mm pistol and 15 rounds.

Cheaves, who visited Jamaica to celebrate her 24th birthday, was forced to pay a hefty sum, even though she said she took the firearm into the country with no intention of committing a crime.

Cases such as Acree’s could also pose diplomatic problems for Jamaica, and the judge, in his statement to the accused visitor, questioned the legitimacy of punishing a tourist as a result of the oversight of a customs officer.

“If he was clean on his way coming in, how can he be unclean on his way going out,” Justice Gayle reportedly stated, adding that it would be a travesty of justice to send Acree to prison or impose a fine.

Instead, he admonished him on both counts and dismissed the matter.

In his response to queries by The Gleaner, attorney Morgan said Acree was very sorry about what had happened. He added that this was not his first time travelling overseas with his gun, having previously brought it into Mexico without any issues.

“He had a great time in Jamaica meeting with franchisees in the mattress business here,” said Morgan.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com