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Dominica: US national to be sentenced on gun-related charges
A magistrate will on May 5, 2023, sentence an American national after he pleaded guilty to being in possession of a firearm as well as several rounds of ammunition without being the holder of the required licences.
Jason James Grogg has been remanded at the Stock Farm Prison. He is also jointly charged with his wife, Jennifer, on a charge of trafficking.
She too, has been remanded to prison until May 5.
The court heard that on April 17, the Anti-Crime Task Force obtained a search warrant to search the premises of Grogg, 44, originally from Logansport, Indiana, and now resident of Dominica.
Police as well as members of the Customs and Excise Division searched the premises where a Glock 19 pistol, fitted with a laser sight and one loaded Glock 9mm magazine containing 15 rounds of ammunition were found.
He was cautioned but told the law enforcement officials that “it’s mine, I was the one who purchased it in the States”.
According to the police, the accused said that he had in his possession the keys for a 40-foot container, situated on the compound of a church, west of here. The container was subsequently seized by Customs.
The court heard that when the container was searched in the presence of the accused and his attorney a plastic container containing 17, 20-gauge Winchester ammunition inside a black plastic flowerpot was found. The search also revealed 120 rounds of other ammunition.
The police also searched a house where the accused resided and found two 9mm Glock magazines each containing 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Cautioned by the police in the presence of his attorney, the US national said ammunition was his and that “I brought them here accidentally”.
In mitigation, attorney Jilane Prevost told the court that her client and his family had migrated to Dominica temporally in 2021 for the sole purpose of doing “missionary work” and that before his arrival on the island, he was closely associated with various churches and charitable organisations.
“Since his entry into Dominica, he and his family have been well-liked and respected throughout the Mahaut community and known for their charitable work,” she said, adding that her client is the “sole provider” for his entire family.
“He is a member of the National Rifle [Association] in the USA and teaches voluntary firearms safety to 15-year-olds…he is also versed on the safe use of various firearms and that is the reason for him being the holder of various types of firearms and ammunition,” Prevost said, adding that her client had no intention to import, export, or traffic any unlawful things into Dominica.
“He has been honest, forthright, and very cooperative with the police and he has taken his blame courageously irrespective of his lack of knowledge and intentions,” she said, telling the court that he has “no criminal records and was someone of good character and standings”.
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3 Responses to “Dominica: US national to be sentenced on gun-related charges”
Mr.Jason Grogg says he found the gun and ammunition in the container. He clams he accidentally packed it there. Mind you he also says he is an expert in "Gun safety".
Then after it arrives in DA, he accidentally finds it himself. Takes it to his home. Not the police, like a "law abiding good citizen"
When the police raid his home, they find the gun, placed close to his bed. Fully loaded!!!! With extra ammunition also close by, just in case of an accidental need for more ammunition than guns????????????????????
So Jason goes on to clams he had innocent, pure intentions. He is a missionary. Great reputation in Mahaut, he clams. Of course he accidentally did not tell the people of Mahaut or at the mission about his loaded gun and ammunition. What would they think of him if they knew he was 'a gun holding crusader"?
When he came to the mission and walk around, did he have his gun? That's okay. Ignore also the fact the mission has kids exposed to this fully loaded "accident".
So if one day he or one of his family ended up shooting a person with that same gun that he just accidentally shipped into Dominca? What would he say, .....That he illegally kept it because it just happened to be so useful these days????
What if one of the many young boys who took his wood working clases, found this gun by the bed and accidentally used his gun and killed another person's child?.... would just call it all a "big accident" that the illegal gun was loaded?.
Let's pray for wisdom, and wake the ... up. This man is a big wolf. After all, he has lived here for over 15 months. Enough time to hide and sell the other "accidentally" inported items.
Hopefully the 'Fine"/ sentence will be fair on Friday May 5, 2023
We are so nice in Dominca that we also assist him by considering his financial status before we proceed to fine him. . Making sure this Mahaut Gun Swinging Missionary, can afford to pay at least something.