UPDATE: Teacher & Graphic Artist plead not guilty to gun & traffic charges
The two men, a high school teacher and a graphic artist, are currently before the Magistrate’s Court having been charged with possession of an illegal weapon and explosives following an alleged police chase on June 14, 2013. The weapon has allegedly been identified as a Glock .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun, with nine rounds of ammunition.
Both men pleaded not guilty after being jointly charged with possession of explosives (9 rounds of .45 calibre ammunition) and carrying a firearm without a licence (Glock 45 semi-automatic pistol) at Pasea on June 14, 2013.
Leonard pleaded not guilty to throwing an object out of a motor vehicle while de Castro pleaded guilty to driving contrary to the directional flow of traffic. He offered a not guilty plea to the charge of failing to stop at the sound of a siren.
de Castro is represented by attorney at law, Richard Rowe, while Mishka Jacobs appeared for Leonard on behalf of Patrick Thompson. The Crown is being represented by Senior Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin who was absent for today’s hearing.
Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards enquired about how the prosecution would treat de Castro’s guilty plea and Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham indicated that all the charges will be dealt with at once during trial and the guilty plea will be dealt with subsequent to this.
The men will return to court on October 17, 2013.
See previous story posted June 17, 2013:
Teacher & Graphic Artist charged for alleged gun possession
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Two men, a high school teacher and a graphic artist, are currently before the Magistrate’s Court facing charges of possession of an illegal weapon and explosives following an alleged police chase recently. The weapon has been identified as a Glock .45 calibre semi-automatic handgun, with nine rounds of ammunition.
Leon Leonard, 24 of Botanic Station and Kai de Castro, 26, of Sea Cows Bay were not pleaded to the charges when they appeared before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards today, June 17, 2013.
Police have further charged Leonard with throwing an object out of a motor vehicle while they have also charged de Castro with driving contrary to the directional flow of traffic and failing to stop at the sound of a siren.
de Castro is represented by attorney at law, Richard Rowe, while Leonard is represented by Mishka Jacobs.
Police allege that on Friday, June 14, 2013, just before 4A.M., officers of the Road Town Police Station were on patrol in a marked police vehicle in the Purcell area when they observed a white Mercury SUV approaching the roundabout from the Free Bottom area.
The vehicle, allegedly driven by de Castro who is also a teacher at the Elmore Stoutt High School, entered the roundabout on the opposite direction, proceeding in the west bound lane of the James Walter Francis Drive. Police reportedly gave chase but the vehicle did not stop, despite flashing lights and sirens.
It was also alleged that the police vehicle pulled alongside the suspects' during the chase and signalled for them to stop, but they refused. The suspects’ vehicle then proceeded to the Pasea Estate area near Delta Petroleum's service station where officers allegedly saw an object being thrown from the passenger side of the vehicle.
Police continued to pursue the suspects after stopping at the location where the object was thrown and determining that it was a firearm in a holster.
Nothing was found when a search was conducted on the suspects and their vehicle when they were apprehended.
Police reportedly took the defendants to the area and showed them the alleged firearm, but they remained silent. They were later taken to the police station.
At the station, de Castro allegedly confirmed he is the owner of the vehicle and that he was the driver when police were pursuing them.
Leonard also allegedly told officers that he was a passenger in the vehicle when he saw the gun and became agitated when police pursued them.
During the interview, Leonard allegedly told officers that he took the weapon from the centre console and threw it through the front passenger window. He denied ownership of the gun
Leonard was granted bail in the sum of $65,000 with one signed surety, $5,000 of which will be in cash while de Castro was given bail in the sum of $70,000 with one signed surety and a $5,000 cash component. de Castro’s bail conditions include that he surrenders his travel documents and reports to the Road Town Police Station three days per week.
The men will return to court on July 19, 2013.
30 Responses to “UPDATE: Teacher & Graphic Artist plead not guilty to gun & traffic charges”
man, these two clowns need to get l*fe in the j>>> just for being so stupid; all them doing is hotting up the place, leave them moves for the pros and keep the police out the mix;please !!!!!
@ Truth ...Bullcrap. What self defense? I've been here my whole life and never needed a gun for self defense and self defense from what. If you are not hanging with the wrong people you can still live very safe here. Tired of you all making excuses for these bums. Glad they got caught.
.we wont have a clue ....they might habe go harass the getto youth .
This situation calls for the public to reach out to their politicians and the police department force to help our young people by educating them about gun violence. This summer start a boot camp for young men and channel their energy towards more positive stimulus. It takes a village to raise a child, why not start today! Thank God there was no loss of lives in this situation. Take preventative actions and not wait for a next time, because the next time may be your love ones. This case is not unique in any shape or form.
These are two well educated young men that got caught up in making very bad decisions due to being so naïve. This is obviously a cry for help, so why not help them. Demand more from your politicians- form an alliance to save the young men of the BVI. Make demands from your leaders to do more, much more, and not continue to sit idle by and watch the future of young men diminished. Ask where the guns are coming from. These guns certainly are not being manufactured in the BVI. Who is behind smuggling these firearms into this little island? These are the real criminals that are causing destruction to this beautiful island – investigate and apprehend them!
Never forget that the youths are our future. I leave you with these encouraging words – “By giving back you will always be rich. Ask for your purpose in life and to be used as a tool for others to learn.”