Grand Turk Cruise passenger pays fine for TWO BULLETS, returns to US on Thursday

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

#TurksandCaicos, May 31, 2024 – Justice Davidson Baptiste ruled that, in his view, the case of Tyler Wenrich, who was arrested for possession of ammunition at the Grand Turk Cruise port, warranted special consideration or was deemed, ‘Exceptional Circumstance.’ Following this determination, Justice Baptiste delivered a sentence that resulted in Tyler and his family returning to the United States earlier today, Thursday.

Tyler Scott Wenrich, a 31-year-old from Virginia in the United States of America, became the second American to be sentenced for ammunition possession in the Turks and Caicos since the court of appeal ruling in February of this year.

His Lordship concurred with F-Chambers’ senior defense counsel, Ms. Sheena Mair, acknowledging the exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.

During sentencing, the judge stated that the mandatory minimum sentence did not apply in this instance, deeming it arbitrary and disproportionate.

TYLER SCOTT WENRICH and his father, Michael Wenrich arrived at the court in Grand Turk on Tuesday morning.  Magnetic Media was on the ground for continued coverage of the remaining, four Americans charged in the Turks and Caicos with ammunition possession.

For Tyler, it began with a one day (actually not even a day, mere hours of an excursion) while visiting the island of Grand Turk in the TCI which turned out to be a one month and nearly two week stay for the Virginia man, who arrived at the cruise port on April 20^th, 2024.

As part of his sentencing plea and mitigation on May 21st, Wenrich did submit to his Lordship through his Human Rights Attorney, a letter of apology in support of his plea for mercy and a lesser sentence.

Present at the court house where the verdict was due to be delivered, were Michael Wenrich, the defendant’s father; Tyler’s wife and Mr. Hon. Robert Hall of TCI Expressions talk show, part of the local media.

“I feel very relieved, I feel like a weight has been lifted off me,” said Wenrich following the sentencing hearing to court correspondent Wilkie Arthur, who has been following the cases of all Americans charged for breach of the TCI’s Firearms Ordinance.

“I couldn’t tell one way or the other (what would be the outcome) so I was just tearing up every time he would mention my 18-month old son and now, I’m just relieved.”

Having been found in possession of two 9mm bullets last month as he was passing through a Royal Caribbean security check point to re-board the ship, Wenrich was arrested.  For the three weeks, Tyler remained imprisoned in Grand Turk and on sentencing day, learned that his time served was deemed sufficient by the judge.

His sentence of three-week imprisonment was joined by a fine of $9,000.00 from Judge Baptiste.

“Besides this,” said Tyler, “everybody here – citizens, police, the guards – everybody here has been phenomenal.”

The sentence was handed down in the Grand Turk Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 28.