Jarvis loses faith; ends on wrong side of law

In 2010, journalist Junior Jarvis gave his life to Christ and became involved in a prison ministry, where he sought to preach the word of God to incarcerated persons.

His decision to become a Christian was spurred by the fact that his father, James Jarvis, was on January 26, 1978, sent to the gallows for murder, but before dying had given his life to Christ after meeting a missionary by the name of Don Overstreet.

In an interview behind the High Court in Kingstown, a few feet away from Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) late in 2010, Jarvis said that as a youngster growing up, he had always heard the story of how Overstreet led his father to Christ.

He said that story should have been an example for him, but admitted that he had gone down the wrong path for years, but had now come around and would like to use his new found faith to help persons.

“If I had not made the decision, I would have followed in my father’s footsteps and I am following in his footsteps in a different way,” said Jarvis in 2010, noting that he had received Christ and would be going into the prison and administering to young men, so that they could realize Jesus is the only way and not so much their lawyers and friends and devices they are accustomed to.

But much has happened since that day in 2010 and on Thursday, January 16, 2017, Jarvis was taken to the Serious Offences Court, charged in relation to a series of incidents which took place on Tuesday, February 14, Valentine’s Day.

Appearing in front Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, the 44-year-old was charged with entering the dwelling house of Joseph Smith of Arnos Vale, with an offensive weapon, to wit a gun; and also charged with committing an act which is more than merely preparatory, with the intent to commit a murder. He is being represented by Israel Bruce.

A resident of Hollywood, Redemption Sharpes, Jarvis was not required to plead to the indictable offence and prosecutor Elgin Richards said that Jarvis is expected to be charged with a more serious offence, the murder of Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines employee Randy Lawrence, who was shot multiple times in Arnos Vale on February 14 at around 7 a.m.