A former sergeant in the then Bermuda Regiment has been sentenced to 30 days in prison for possessing two rifle magazines.

Appearing in Magistrates’ Court, Jason DeCouto, of Paget, was today also fined $800 for possessing 18.21 grams of cannabis.

At a previous court appearance on September 30, the 35-year-old admitted having two mini Ruger magazines in Paget on April 6.

DeCouto also pleaded guilty to having the controlled drug in Pembroke on the same date.

Prosecutor Alan Richards told the court in September that police officers were on duty with a canine unit when the dog altered them to a car.

They could smell cannabis and 16 plastic twists containing plant material were seized from under the driver’s seat.

DeCouto was taken to Hamilton Police Station and the rifle components were found when his residence was searched later that day.

They were located in small white container that was in another container in a cupboard under the stairs in the living room.

When questioned about the magazines, DeCouto told the officers that they were from his “Regiment days” and that he forgot to hand them in.

During the sentencing today, defence lawyer Craig Attridge reiterated that his client forgot about the magazines but readily accepted responsibility for them when they were found.

He added that his client came into possession of the magazines lawfully, having been a sergeant in the Regiment from 2003 to 2004, and that he “accidentally came to bring them home”.

Mr Attridge said he did not keep them “for any nefarious or wicked purpose” and asked that the matter be dealt with by a conditional discharge.

Prosecutor Karen King said: “There was no criminal intent but he did exercise extremely poor judgment.”

She added that he “should have taken reasonable steps to return or dispose of the magazines”.

Magistrate Archibald Warner accepted Mr Attridge’s submission that DeCouto came into lawful possession of the items but did not accept that he forgot about them.

Mr Warner added that persons convicted of firearms offences could expect an immediate custodial sentence.

He sentenced DeCouto to 30 days in prison for possessing the magazines and handed him an $800 fine for having the cannabis.

Mr Attridge said he would be appealing the sentence and made an application for bail, which was refused.

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