The Arnos Vale man who was ordered to appear at the Serious Offences Court on Thursday for facts and sentencing on gun and ammunition charges to which he pleaded guilty one day earlier has changed his plea.
On Wednesday, at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court, Sealey “Mikey” Matthias, 56, pleaded guilty to a charge that, on July 7, at Stubbs, he had in his possession one Smith & Wesson .40 pistol, serial number unknown, without a licence.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge that on the same date and at the same place, he had in his possession 10 rounds of .40 ammunition without a licence.
Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche had asked that the matters be adjourned and transferred to the Serious Offences Court for facts and sentencing on Thursday.
However, on Thursday, Matthias told the court that he wanted to change his plea to not guilty.
Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne Matthias granted him bail in the sum of EC$15,000 with one surety and ordered him to surrender his travel documents.
Browne also ordered that stop notices be placed at ports of entry and exit and ordered Matthias to seek the permission of the court to leave St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
He was also ordered to report to the Central Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, Browne also increased the bail amount and revised the bail conditions in relation to charges that Matthias and Francella “Fatty” Thomas, 52, of Arnos Vale are also facing.
When they appeared before Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, Matthias and Thomas had pleaded not guilty to charges that on July 7, at Arnos Vale, they had in their possession, a 12-gauge shot gun, serial number, W715154 and nine counts of possession of ammunition without a licence.
The accused are alleged to have had in their possession 396 rounds of ammunition.
The ammunition is as follows: 31 rounds of 12-gauge; 107 rounds of .40; 200 rounds of .22; 28 rounds of .38; 10 rounds of 9mm; 6 rounds of .44; 12 rounds of .357; and two rounds of .32
In relation to Matthias, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delplesche had not objected to the bail, noting that he was to be remanded in connection with the guilty pleas.
Delplesche also had not objected to bail for Thomas, but asked the court to demand sufficient surety and impose a reporting condition of twice per week.
Burnett granted Thomas composite bail in the sum of EC$15,000 with one surety.
He ordered that she report to the Central Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
On Thursday, the duo maintained their not guilty pleas.
The chief magistrate increased the bail amount for each accused to EC$50,000 with one surety each.
She ordered them to surrender their travel documents and to seek the permission of the court to leave the country.
The magistrate also ordered that stop notices be placed at ports of entry and exit and ordered that both accused report to the Central Police Station on Mondays and Fridays between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The next hearing in the matter is on Oct. 1.
Counsel Michelle Fife is representing Matthias and Thomas.
You should have been a Army veteran explains this one am waiting.