Loophole in new law could be good news for Kevin Young

On Monday, Michelle Baltazar, was the first person to be convicted and sentenced under the newly amended firearm act. The revised legislation came into effect two months ago as a response to the spiraling increase in crime, specifically gun related offenses. And today a loophole in the same legislation may allow twenty-six year old Kevin Young, a chance of being released on bail when he returns to court later this month. Young was charged with Aggravated Burglary and pleaded not guilty to the charge. His attorney, Dickie Bradley, submitted to the Court that this particular charge was omitted from the new legislation as one of the offenses for which the court cannot offer bail. The law refers specifically to the charges of Attempted Burglary with a firearm and Burglary with a Firearm but is silent on the specific charge of aggravated burglary with a firearm. So that when Young goes back to court on August twenty-eight, it will be up to the prosecution to prove that bail should be denied.

Young is charged with the burglary of businesswoman Yesenia Rojas. Rojas reported that on August thirteenth, two dark complexioned men, one armed with a pistol, entered her business at Mile two on the western highway and robbed her of one thousand five hundred dollars and four cell phones. Young, a taxi driver of Boots Crescent, was identified as one of the two and was charged. Police are searching for the other culprit.

Since the legislation came into effect on June twelfth, a string of persons have been remanded to prison while minors have been sent to the Youth Hostel.