High Court Judge Justice Thomas Astaphan has granted United States of America (USA) citizen, Jason James Grogg, $50,000.00 bail following the Magistrate’s court’s previous denial.
Grogg was remanded into custody at the Dominica State Prison for over three weeks on eight customs charges—three summary charges of false declaration and five indictable charges of evasion of customs—.On May 12, Magistrate Pearl Williams denied bail to the US citizen as according to her, the court was not satisfied that there was just cause to release Grogg on bail.
Attorney-at-law, Sergeant Allen Alexander who led the prosecution’s case during the then bail application hearing, told the court that based on section four subsection three of the Bail Act, a person charged with a serious offense
that is punishable by a term of imprisonment or previously convicted for an offense, is not entitled to bail as a right, and shall not be granted bail unless they satisfy the court there is just cause to do so.
Pursuant to section six of the Bail Act, Alexander further averred, the prosecution has substantial ground to believe that should Grogg be released he will fail to surrender to the custody of the court for his trial as there is no real documentary evidence that the accused was expected to return to Dominica.
He argued that Grogg has no ties to Dominica as he is a missionary worker who is not gainfully employed.
In response, defense counsel Jilane-Milani Prevost who was led by Julien Prevost reminded the court that their client’s previous conviction stemmed from the same facts, circumstances, evidence, dates, and witnesses as the Customs proceedings.
She encouraged the court, in interpreting section four subsection three of the Bail Act, to take a wholistic view of the proceedings. On the issue of public interest, she declared that it was in the public’s interest for Grogg to be released, and an accused person’s cooperation with law enforcement should not be met with punishment but rather rewarded with trust to ensure his continued cooperation.
She posited Grogg is not a flight risk because he has sufficient ties in Dominica and has indicated his intention to remain here. However, in handing down her decision, Magistrate Williams stated, “He [Grogg] has only been residing in Dominica for two years, his children are all US citizens who are home-schooled so they can leave at any time, and he has no established job in Dominica apart from voluntary work.”
She continued, “There is no evidence before the court to show that the work permit was submitted or approved and he does not have a permanent place of abode as his rental agreement may end at any time.”
Magistrate Williams stated the public disaffiliation by Feed My Sheep (FMS) to Grogg does not reflect the community ties that his attorneys spoke of hence the mission he came to Dominica for has ended.
For these reasons bail was denied, and the accused was remanded into custody at the Dominica State Prison.
The defense attorneys then petitioned the High Court for bail for their client. Following arguments from the defense and the prosecution, Justice Astaphan granted the bail application in the sum of $50,000.00 with two sureties.
Grogg willingly surrendered his travel documents to the court.
He was further ordered to report to the St. Joseph Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday between the hours of 7:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m., and must not change his address or leave the jurisdiction unless granted otherwise by the court.
Grogg is expected to return to the Magistrate Court on June 8, 2023, for an application hearing for the consolidation of his summary charges.
He’s the subject of a poor-me article published this week in his home state of Indiana. These people are the worst, most entitled crybabies, and the types detested by 70% of Americans.
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/investigations/2023/12/29/indiana-family-moves-to-small-caribbean-island-arrested-on-gun-charges/71804540007/
archive: https://archive.ph/1oSdG
Yall seem to forget this was not about guns but it was alleged Jason Grogg cheated the gov of import duties on a vehicle! But 50 000 for fraudulently getting tax exemption…what s…. they saw the bank account and decided to take his money.Why didnt they charge him with fraud before the bank statements got here? Yes he should pay for the guns and amo. But these trumpt up charges are just to defraud the man .their head swell when they saw the numbers. THats that AND THATS ALL.
Finally. Hope Mr. Grogg is ok and in good spirits.
I’m pleased that the high court is applying the law in an apparently fair manner and holding this gun runner posing as a missionary to account for his violation of the laws of Dominca.
Because Skerritt is on record as endorsing backdoor entry and exit to and from the country, stating that he doesn’t see the big issue as Dominicans have always come and gone using the backdoor method, there is need to watch Jason as a hawk. He tried to sneak out once already. He must pay for his crime.
If Grogg is not a member of Feed My Sheep why did customs allow him to pass without checking the container?And if customs allow him to go through on the belief that he was a member of Feed My Sheep,why did Feed My Sheep allow him to put the container on their property right in front of the church building?And why did the container stay on the premises of Feed My Sheep for 1 year?Grogg is guilty as hell,but I believe Grogg fell out with members of Feed My Sheep and they sold him out.
50,000,00 Dollars bail my backside this is a joke this high court is a comedy shop they know dam well he will not return to Dominica, to answer any court case once he gets on American soil, another gun running missionary got away once again.
If you come to Dominica as a missionary, why would you import illegal guns and ammunition into the country? What was your real reason for doing this? Did you have nefarious intentions?
If a Dominican is caught with a single illegal gun while visiting the US, it’s automatic incarceration.
but he was in jail. the legal system allowed him to get bail. in America we would get bail too after spending some time in jail. After the case is final we would find out if i go to prison or not. But in the meantime id get bail also.
How about that? Our citizens caught with some cannabis are given those charges, yet a “sleeper-cell” gun runner missionary is given the same regardless of how many container loads in his past or directly from gun manufacturers through him?