30-year-old Clement Irvin Royer of Canefield is now a free man after he paid his “forthwith fine” of $15,000.00 imposed on him by Senior Magistrate Michael Laudat on May 29, 2025, after he pleaded guilty to four firearms-related offences.
Brief facts
The police, acting on information, applied for and obtained a search warrant for the home of Clement Irvin Royer and on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 went to his home at about 3:30 pm, he was not presen,t but some police officers remained in the area while others went in search of him.
After he was shown the warrant, he was asked if he had anything illegal, and he replied, “No, Officer, an Air Rifle I have.”
The Officers in his presence commenced the search and discovered a 9mm thirty-round capacity magazine concealed in a converter kit on a dresser loaded with 9mm ammunition. When asked about it, he replied, “Officer, get I get that on the road.” In his presence, the ammunition was removed from the magazine and counted, it amounted to five.
The search continued, and in a white container, the police found one 12-gauge ammunition. He gave no reply for that one. In the living room/kitchen area, a search of a black bag revealed two rounds of .380 ammunition and one round of 9mm ammunition. Questioned about them, he gave no reply. Asked if he had a firearms and ammunition license, he replied, “Office, no.”
The search continued, but nothing liable to seizure was found. He was then allowed by the police to secure his home properly and then arrested.
In court he pleaded guilty to the four charges leveled against him, (1) possession of a firearm without a firearms license, (2) possession of 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license, (3) possession of 2 rounds of .380 ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license and (4) possession of 1 round 12-gauge ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license.
Mitigation Plea
He was represented in the matter by lawyers Gina Abraham Thomas and Wayne Norde.
In her plea in mitigation, Abraham-Thomas told the court that her client was 30 years old and a businessman, and a first-time offender who had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
“He did not waste the court’s time, since his arrest by the police, he has been in custody and he understands the seriousness of his actions, we ask the court to temper justice with mercy and not impose a custodial sentence on him,” she said.
She told the court that “a custodial sentence will do him and the State any good”.
“We are asking this court to take a chance on him and give him a second chance to right his wrong…impose a reasonable fine and give him time to pay, it’s his first encounter with the law,” Abraham-Thomas remarked.
However, in his response before sentencing, Senior Magistrate Michael Laudat stated that, “over the past time, the families are left with one less home, because they are either at the prison or dead, and firearm-related offences were a scourge on the Dominican community.”
Sentencing
“I will not impose a custodial sentence on you but will impose a fine that will make you think about your mistake,” the Magistrate stated.
(1) possession of a firearm without a firearms license, (fine $7,500.00 to be paid forthwith, in default 6 months jail
(2) possession of 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license, (no separate sentence)
(3) possession of 2 rounds of .380 ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license (fine $7,500.00 to be paid forthwith, in default 6 months in jail)
4) possession of 1 round of 12-gauge ammunition without being the holder of an ammunition license. (No separate sentence)
The maximum sentence for each of the four offences is a fine of $20,000.00 or imprisonment for six months. The fines were paid, and he was released.
Sergeant Agana Harriette prosecuted on behalf of the prosecution.