UPDATE - Sprauve & Stevens get 15 years for Moneygram robbery
They were both handed 15 years for robbery and 10 years for possession of firearm with intent to endanger life and the sentences are to run concurrently.
In handing down the sentence, Justice Albert Redhead told the two that they have both pleaded guilty to two very serious offences, for which the maximum sentence for robbery is life in prison and possession of firearm is 20 years.
He further stated that judges have a very heavy burden in passing sentencing, and the court must send a message that such behaviour is not acceptable in society and cannot get away lightly. “The court cannot shun its responsibility.”
On June 7, 2012, Sprauve Jr. and Stevens had pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of firearm with intent to endanger life.
They pleaded not guilty to Count 2 which was wounding with intent. In light of their guilty pleas, the Crown, led by Senior Crown Counsel Valston Graham, had offered no evidence in Count 2 against the accused men.
Meanwhile, the three other accused Rodney Simmonds Jr., and Mikael Howe were found not guilty and Michael Stevens had walked free.
The charges against Michael Stevens were dropped on June 22, 2012. His lawyer Akeela Anderson had successfully argued that the Crown did not have sufficient evidence to link her client to the robber, and on June 25, 2012, a nine member jury unanimously found Rodney Simmonds Jr. and Mikael Howe not guilty for the robbery.
For two weeks, the duo was on trial for robbery, possession of firearm with intent to endanger a life and wounding with intent.
In light of this, Justice Albert Redhead told the young men that they were free to go. However, only Howe walked out a free man since Simmonds Jnr, who is charged with another criminal offence, has to remain in prison.
According to court records, the robbery happened around 4:30 p.m. on January 21, 2011 when two security officers had picked up the day’s earnings – 193, 409.33 – to be taken to the National Bank of the Virgin Islands.
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