Ten years for twenty-year-old gunman
(CNS): Suspected local gang member, Robert Aaron Crawford, was sentenced to a term of ten years imprisonment yesterday after being convicted of the possession of an unlicensed firearm subsequent to an incident that took place in November of last year. Justice Charles Quinn found Crawford guilty of throwing a Stock German Luger handgun into the bushes during an on-foot police chase after his car crashed on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. Justice Quin said in his sentencing ruling that “ten years imprisonment is a long time”. Aware of Crawford recently turning 20 years of age, he said the sentence should act as a deterrent to others contemplating such an offence.
During the judge-alone trial last year the court heard how, shortly after the on-foot chase, armed police officers had recovered the handgun containing a magazine with six rounds of shots in the area where Crawford was seen trying to dispose of the firearm.
In his conclusion, Justice Quin took into account that the mere possession of a firearm is a serious offence, and although there was no evidence to support any intent, the weapon could fall into the hands of someone with a dangerous objective. He adopted the position that a loaded firearm was far more hazardous than an unloaded one.
He stated that he was sentencing Crawford to the minimum requirement of a decade of incarceration with time spent in custody taken into consideration, given that the defendant had only one previous conviction of handling stolen goods rather than a history of violence or firearms offences.
Defense counsel Nick Hoffman had presented the judge with a range of mitigating factors in Crawford’s case.
This included the details on his childhood and adolescent years, which were not too long ago. Hoffman submitted that Crawford grew up without parental guidance and found himself in a vicious circle and inevitably became involved with the authorities. Hoffman also reported that the people who were responsible for him were also involved in the “criminal fraternity” and that he had lack of moral compass and maturity. Therefore, he had acted on impulse and the spur of the moment.
Referring to previous cases of similar offenses that were submitted by the crown counsel during the sentencing hearing, Hoffman noted that the majority of men mentioned were in excess of Crawford’s age at the time of their conviction and they had intended to commit an offence, whereas Crawford upheld his innocence and there was no evidence of any intent in his case.
In closing, Justice Quin left words of encouragement for Crawford, stating, “I hope that he will make full use of the opportunities which will be afforded to him for rehabilitation at HMPS Northward in order to equip himself with skills which he can used to lead a crime-free and productive life in the many years which will lie ahead of him after his release.”
The judge also commended the officers in their efforts throughout the case. “The court is pleased to record that another illegal firearm and as well as ammunition has been taken off the streets,” he said, especially given the increase in offences under the Firearms Law.
Category: Crime
well he WON his appeal and now he should SUE the slack ass gov!!!!
10 years for hurting no one and 3 years for drunk driving, putting numerous lives at risk and killing 1.
Good job, Cayman.
Is there some kind of fund I can contribute to monthly to keep this individual behind bars for the rest of his sorry life? I'm serious.
No.
So am I.
Instead of a fund to keep criminals behind bars I suggest you consider doing something worthwhile to help the many other young children in our midst who are growing up in similiar circumstances. Alot of these youngsters are intelligent and talented but are also well on the way to becoming dangerous criminals and a drain on society.
XXXX
I wonder if Alden ever examined the unfairness of this mandatory sentence that he agreed to after some incident of an alleged shooting next to AG's house in around 2004-5? Time to evaluate its effectiveneness, especially if not applied to all?
don't worry, once dr frank is elected(?) he will soon be free…….
Not wishing to dash anyone's hopes, but I'd say Frank getting elected isn't something I'd feel very confident about pinning my future on.
When will this scumbug get out for "good behaviour"?
I would bet a lot of money he will get out early, commit more crime and be back in Court before the expiry of these ten years. Rehabiliation is a fine ideal and an expensive one. The evidence is that it hardly ever makes a difference.
I'm sure he'll enjoy his 10 year stay in the hotel we call a prison, all at the expense of the population.
Young Caymanians let this be an example for owning a firearm! That 10 years taken from that young man is gone! Life is better than that! You can go to ucci & be successful in life and drive $100, 000 car etc!
Caymanian
Why would anyone want a $100,000 car in a place with potholes and a maximum speed limit of 25, 30 or 40 mph in almost all places? Aside from people who want to buy Hummers to let us all know that they are insecure tools, which is nice of them to advertise, there is no good reason to own such a vehilce. I earn a fortune and still own a modest little Japanese number.
Funny, I had just had house guests visiting from another country who remarked on the absence of potholes here.
50 mph is the norm east of Bodden Town, i.e. 1/2 the Island, and a $100,000 car need not be a sports car. You should get out more.
Re cheap Japanese number that just means you are cheapskate.
just another $450,000 more or less for tax payers to contribute to , send these long term offenders where they are cheaper to maintain and likely not want to go back.
The Brac?
Cayman created these problem children. Cayman can keep them and deal with the expense themselves.
Nothing else for evading arrest, etc?
The sentencing is insane. There was one incident recently I believe he received a 12 year sentence for a gun charge went to appeal it and got it reduced to 8 years go figure, then the same individual was brought up in front of the judge for a drug charge in jail….and this is what we allow on our streets and reduce their sentences. A gun charge is a gun charge mandatory 10 years why reduce the charge on one and give another the correct amount This is why we are in the problems we are in today!!!!
He’s young and he’ll still be young in ten years. So it goes.