RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The island of Turks and Caicos is revising part of its firearms law following the arrest of several Americans, including Louisa County’s own Tyler Wenrich, according to ABC.
In recent months, five Americans were arrested for carrying ammunition onto Turks and Caicos — something that is illegal without explicit permission from police.
All five Americans were faced with potential consequences dictated by Turks and Caicos’ firearms and ammunition laws: a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison and a fine.
Prior to the amendment reportedly passed by the House of Assembly on June 14, judges were required by law to impose both of these penalties.
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According to ABC, the new amendment would allow courts more discretion in how they rule on such cases. They would have the option to pose a fine, a custodial sentence or a mixture of both in “exceptional circumstances.”
“The amendment was introduced to address concerns about the rigidity of the previous sentencing framework, which mandated both imprisonment and financial penalties for all firearms offenses, regardless of the specific context or severity,” said House of Assembly member Edwin Astwood when speaking to ABC. “This often resulted in disproportionately harsh sentences that did not always fit the nature of the crime or the circumstances of the offender.”
Of the five Americans arrested for such offenses, three have returned to the U.S. after they all received an entirely suspended sentence and a fine: Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, Ryan Watson of Oklahoma and Tyler Wenrich of Virginia.
PREVIOUS: Louisa man avoids 12-year sentence for bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos
Two others — Michael Lee Evans of Texas and Sharitta Shinese Grier of Florida — have yet to receive their sentences. Evans has already entered a guilty plea and Grier is expected to enter one of her own on June 25, according to ABC.
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The island of Turks and Caicos is revising part of its firearms law following the arrest of several Americans, including Louisa County’s own Tyler Wenrich, according to ABC.
In recent months, five Americans were arrested for carrying ammunition onto Turks and Caicos — something that is illegal without explicit permission from police.
All five Americans were faced with potential consequences dictated by Turks and Caicos’ firearms and ammunition laws: a mandatory minimum sentence of 12 years in prison and a fine.
Prior to the amendment reportedly passed by the House of Assembly on June 14, judges were required by law to impose both of these penalties.
According to ABC, the new amendment would allow courts more discretion in how they rule on such cases. They would have the option to pose a fine, a custodial sentence or a mixture of both in “exceptional circumstances.”
“The amendment was introduced to address concerns about the rigidity of the previous sentencing framework, which mandated both imprisonment and financial penalties for all firearms offenses, regardless of the specific context or severity,” said House of Assembly member Edwin Astwood when speaking to ABC. “This often resulted in disproportionately harsh sentences that did not always fit the nature of the crime or the circumstances of the offender.”
Of the five Americans arrested for such offenses, three have returned to the U.S. after they all received an entirely suspended sentence and a fine: Bryan Hagerich of Pennsylvania, Ryan Watson of Oklahoma and Tyler Wenrich of Virginia.
PREVIOUS: Louisa man avoids 12-year sentence for bringing ammunition to Turks and Caicos
Two others — Michael Lee Evans of Texas and Sharitta Shinese Grier of Florida — have yet to receive their sentences. Evans has already entered a guilty plea and Grier is expected to enter one of her own on June 25, according to ABC.