Lord’s Bank Resident Sentenced for Gun Bust and Assault on Police Officers

A Lord’s Bank resident was sentenced today for a gun bust on a Ladyville bus and for shooting after Police Officers. 28-year-old, Joel Benito Choco, appeared unrepresented before a senior magistrate in court today where he was imposed a total of four years, 1 year for aggravated assault and 3 years for ammunition and firearm offenses. His sentences will run concurrently. Two weeks ago, Choco was found guilty of four charges which include: aggravated assault upon a police officer, keeping an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, a magazine loaded with 7 rounds of ammunition and handling stolen goods. In the trial, two police Officers testified saying that they responded to a report that a man was seen with a gun inside a bus exiting Lords Bank Village in Ladyville. When they got on the bus, Choco allegedly ran through the back door of the bus and they began chasing him. According to the police, when they got close, Choco pointed a firearm at one of the police officers and the proceeded to jump a fence in the area. The police officers managed to catch up with him and detain him. The police officers added that the gun in question was reported missing by an officer who belonged to the prosecution branch. In his dock statement, Choco said it was not him and blamed a friend who according to him threw the gun on the floor causing it to go off. He claims he was just running with his friend. The senior magistrate said that she did not believe his version of events, and so he was convicted of three of the four charges. The charge for handling stolen goods was withdrawn since there was no evidence that the gun in question was stolen.