Belize City Dad Gets 2 Years for Homemade Gun

A Belize City father is beginning a two-year prison sentence tonight after a confusing back-and-forth court process involving illegal firearm charges. Thirty-five-year-old Denroy Moss, a resident of Daly Street, was sentenced late yesterday afternoon in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court. The case began back on April 14, when Moss was arraigned for keeping a prohibited firearm – specifically a homemade gun – and possessing five rounds of unlicensed point-thirty-eight ammunition. Initially, Moss pleaded guilty. He told the court he never meant to keep the firearm, explaining he found it years ago while moving and had intended to get rid of it recently but hadn’t had the chance. He mentioned being a single father to his two-year-old son after the child’s mother left. During that initial hearing, Moss sought a sentencing indication. When it became clear he was facing significant prison time – the minimum mandatory sentence being five years – he proceeded with his guilty plea and even called his babysitter to speak in mitigation. The matter was adjourned for another character witness, but Moss was remanded to the Kolbe Foundation prison due to the seriousness of the charges. Upon his return to court on April 17, he asked the Magistrate to change his plea to not guilty. The Magistrate rejected this attempt and adjourned the matter to address the issue. That brings us to yesterday, April 29. Back before the court, Moss reversed his position once again, telling the Magistrate he would maintain his guilty plea and asked for leniency. Police Constable Meighan testified that during a search of Moss’s home on April 12, where he pointed officers to the homemade gun inside a school bag. He then directed them to the ammunition in another bag. Despite the mandatory minimum sentence of five years for the offense, the Magistrate exercised discretion. Taking into account mitigating factors and awarding Moss a one-third discount for his eventual guilty plea, the Magistrate sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment. Sources note that Moss has a previous firearm conviction, making the two-year sentence particularly lenient under the circumstances.