Escaped minor on gun charge

One of the minors who recently escaped from the Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre in Kingston was facing a charge of illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The teen, 17, is the subject of a criminal matter before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. He is jointly charged with 18-year-old Tajay Hinds, who was also brought before the court for breaching the curfew. On December 2, Hinds pleaded guilty to the minor offence and was sentenced to pay a fine of $50,000 or serve six months' imprisonment.

With the minor at large, Parish Judge Jacqueline Wilcott suggested to the prosecution that it takes steps to have the case against Hinds proceed.

"You probably gonna have to look at separating the files so that his (Hinds') matter can go ahead and the minor [name redacted] is dealt with at whatever time he is found because it can't be that he is standing here, waiting on someone else. On the next date, have the files separated so that Mr Hinds can deal with this matter wherever he needs to go and deal with that. He has two other charges that won't be dealt with here," Wilcott said.

Hinds is expected to be brought back to court on January 11, 2022.

A warrant has been issued for the minor's arrest.

The Department of Correctional Services reported on December 6 that three wards of the State escaped from the Metcalfe Street Secure Juvenile Remand Centre. Some 80 wards are housed at the detention facility in Kingston.