Wilkie Arthur
Eagle Legal News
#TurksandCaicos, July 2, 2024 – An “excellent” Turks and Caicos Mother’s Day vacation was ruined by the discovery of two bullets in baggage at the Howard Hamilton International Airport on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, when a grandmother was prevented from traveling back home to Orlando, Florida on May 13th of this year.
Both mother and daughter were stopped by airport law enforcement authorities when deep inside her travel bag, under the far bottom flap, airport scanners picked up the two bullets.
The accused, on Wednesday June 26th, pleaded guilty to being in unlawful possession of two rounds of ammunition before her Ladyship the Hon. Ms. Tanya Lobban-Jackson and she is today listed for continued sentencing hearing on Thursday, 11th July, 2024.
SHARITTA SHINISE GRIER, 46 is the only American woman and the last of the five Americans who were charged with breach of the Turks and Caicos Firearms Ordinance which forbids possession of gun and ammunition unless registered and licensed by the Royal TCI Police Force.
The expectation is that Grier will benefit from the ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause in the law and be permitted to finally return home.
In recent weeks, the high-profile cases focused on the ordeal for Americans: TYLER WENRICK who was eventually released after being sentenced to a fine of $9,000.00 for two 9mm rounds of ammunition.
RYAN WATSON, who was fined $2,000.00 for four bullets.
BRYAN HAGERICH who was fined $6,700.00 for 20 rounds of rifle bullets.
MICHAEL LEE EVANS, no fine, for a loaded magazine with seven rounds of ammunition therein. He was, however, given a suspended sentence.
SHARITTA SHINISE GRIER is represented by F- Chambers senior attorney Ms. Sheena Mair.
UPDATED: 03/07/2024
