Rogers charged $5,000 for gun, ammo possession

Under the 2005 Firearms Amendment Act, any magistrate has the power to sentence a defendant up to seven years if found guilty of gun and ammunition possession.

Magistrate Zoila Ellis Browne, filling in for Chief Magistrate Simone Churaman, however fined Julius Rogers, 25, labourer of Langley Park $5000 on Tuesday for having an 8 millimeter pistol and one round of .8 millimeter ammunition in his possession.{{more}}

Rogers who pleaded guilty to both charges, was ordered to pay $3500 in two weeks for the gun and $1500 for the ammunition also in two weeks or spend one month in jail.

While at his home on Sunday April 8 at about 7.40 a.m., a vigilant PC 455 Gibson saw the defendant next door with what appeared to be a pistol in his hand.

Gibson went over to where the defendant was and after seeing him, Rogers placed the weapon in his pocket. Gibson identified himself as an officer in plain clothes and asked him to hand over the weapon. The gun was checked and the one round of ammunition was found. He was cautioned and told Officer Gibson he had found the gun.

Rogers was taken to the Georgetown Police Station where he was further cautioned and admitted the gun belonged to him.