A 20-year-old man was yesterday jailed for five years on charges of six counts of robbery under arms at a church and unlawful possession of a firearm while his accomplice walked free.
Leston Marcus of 1892 North Ruimveldt, George-town, appeared before Magistrate Rushell Liver-pool at the Leonora Court where he pleaded guilty to the offences.
He was sentenced to three years imprisonment for the robbery charges. He also received an additional two years for the firearm possession charge for which a fine of $100,000 was also imposed. The sentences will run consecutively.
The court heard that on Sunday, October 11 at the Universal Church at Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, Marcus robbed Andrea De Santos of $400,000 and a cell phone valued $20,000.
He also relieved Travis Gibson of $25,000 cash and a Plum cell phone worth $25,000 and stripped Luimano De Santos of a Blu cell phone valued $45,000.
Further, Marcus robbed the pastor of the church, Dillip Bikhari of US$1,000, an equivalent of $200,000 local currency, along with $25,000 cash and a laptop computer worth 140,000.
Devon Vanfield, 23, of 43 Sandy Babb St., Kitty was also charged with the same offences and pleaded not guilty.
The matter was dismissed after the complainants declined to offer evidence against Vanfield.
In submitting the facts, police prosecutor, Sergeant Sherwyn Matthews told the court that the defendants were in the church when the duo entered and held them at gunpoint.
They relieved them of the articles and made good their escape. A report was made to the Leonora Police Station and the cops responded in five minutes.
The officers searched the area and Marcus was captured on the primary school street about one block away from the scene.
The prosecutor also informed the court that Marcus was found with a haversack containing the gun, along with the laptop, cell phones and $106,000 in cash.
