{"id":302192,"date":"2023-04-25T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=302192"},"modified":"2023-04-26T11:22:36","modified_gmt":"2023-04-26T15:22:36","slug":"us-national-pleads-guilty-to-possession-of-firearm-and-ammo-court-says-arrest-detention-of-minors-was-unlawful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/news\/us-national-pleads-guilty-to-possession-of-firearm-and-ammo-court-says-arrest-detention-of-minors-was-unlawful\/","title":{"rendered":"US national pleads guilty to possession of firearm and ammo; court says arrest\/detention of minors was unlawful"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jason James Grogg<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was a long day in court for Jason James Grogg and members of his family. Presently, the United States of America (USA) citizen awaits the sentence of the court following his guilty plea to possession of several rounds of ammunition and a firearm.<\/p>\n

On April 17, 2023, members of the Anti-Crime Task Force of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF), along with the investigation unit of the Customs and Excise Division, executed a search warrant on a certain premise at Belfast, where Grogg resides.<\/p>\n

During the search, a firearm and a quantity of ammunition were seized for investigation.<\/p>\n

A 40-foot storage container which he possessed and which was stored on the compound of a church\/youth centre in Mahaut, was searched and following the discovery of several other ammunitions, the items were seized for investigation.<\/p>\n

Consequent to the discovery, Jason James Grogg, his wife Jennifer Elaine Grogg, their 18-year-old daughter, Hannah Elaine Grogg as well as their three minor children ages 16, 14, and 12 all US citizens, were arrested by the police.<\/p>\n

While the three adults along with the 16-year-old were kept in police cells, the 14 and 12-year-old children were placed at a children\u2019s home in Dominica in State custody and released a few days later.<\/p>\n

On April 21, attorneys Julien Prevost and Jilane Prevost who represent the family filed an urgent writ of Habeas Corpus.<\/p>\n

The four individuals were subsequently charged by the police after the writ was filed.<\/p>\n

At Monday\u2019s High Court hearing, the defense attorneys argued that their clients were subjected to several hours of constitutional false imprisonment since they were detained by the police for more than 72 hours of their arrest, delayed investigation, and an abuse of process by the police.<\/p>\n

Following arguments by State and defense counsels, Dominica\u2019s new High court Judge, His Lordship, the Hon. Justice Thomas W. R. Astaphan, ordered that on admission by the investigating officer, Sergeant Lindon Timothy, the detention of the 12, 14 and 16-year-old children was unlawful from inception contrary to section 3 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Dominica.<\/p>\n

He further ordered the release of the 16-year-old girl who the police had since charged.<\/p>\n

His Lordship, however, ruled that the detention of Jason, Jennifer, and Hannah Grogg was reasonable, lawful, and justifiable in the course of the investigation.<\/p>\n

The three individuals were then taken to the Magistrate\u2019s court where the charges were read to them.<\/p>\n

There, the first two charges of trafficking were read. However, Mr. and Mrs. Grogg were not required to enter a plea since these matters are indictable offenses and are expected to be heard at the High Court.<\/p>\n

The police allege that between September 21 and 25, 2021, at the Wood Bridge Bay Port, Jason and Jennifer Grogg did engage in the unlawful trafficking of 120 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 17 rounds of universal 20-gauge ammunition, 45 rounds of .9mm ammunition, one 57mm M16 spent shell casing, three 20mm M21A1B1 spent shell casing, three 20mm projectile, and one 37mm M63 projectile.<\/p>\n

Additionally, they are accused of illegally trafficking in one .9mm Glock 19 pistol, three .9mm 15-round capacity magazines, and four 30-round capacity 5.56 magazines.<\/p>\n

The remaining charges were either-way offenses and the accused individuals opted for a summary trial in the Magistrate\u2019s court.<\/p>\n

The charges were as follows, Jennifer and Jason Grogg were charged with two counts of possession of firearm for having in their possession 17 rounds of universal 20-gauge Winchester ammunition and four 5.56mm magazines on April 18, 2023, at the Woodbridge Bay Port without being the holder of a valid firearm license. Jason James Grogg pleaded guilty to both charges while Jennifer pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

In keeping with the High Court order, the prosecution withdrew the charges against the 16-year-old, but 18-year-old Hannah Grogg was jointly charged on five complaints with her parents.<\/p>\n

The trio was accused of illegally having in their possession one 15-round capacity 9mm firearm magazine, one Glock 19 9.9mm pistol, and 15 rounds of .9mm ammunition on April 17, 2023, at Belfast, Mahaut.<\/p>\n

They were further charged with illegal possession of 30 rounds of .9mm ammunition and two 15-round\u00a0capacity 9mm magazines on April 18, 2023, at Belfast, Mahaut.<\/p>\n

Jason pleaded guilty to the additional five complaints while Jennifer and Hannah Grogg pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

After the charges were read, the police prosecutor sought an adjournment to seek guidance from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).<\/p>\n

When the matter resumed at 2:00 p.m., DPP Sherma Dalrymple who was present in court withdrew all complaints against Jennifer and Hannah Grogg which Jason Grogg had pleaded guilty to.<\/p>\n

The matter was adjourned to April 25, 2023, for facts and sentencing. Regarding the indictable matters against Mr and Mrs Grogg, Dalrrmple informed the court that a certain course of action will be taken following the sentence of the court.<\/p>\n

The DPP then made an application pursuant to section 212 of the Magistrate Code of Procedure to have the accused individuals placed in the custody of the investigating officer until their return to court on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Dominica News Online (DNO) has since been informed that diplomatic representatives from the US Embassy are in Dominica and have since conducted interviews with the family and are closely monitoring the matter.<\/p>\n