Businessman gets 66 months for illegal gun
Allison Vanterpool being escorted from court on a previous occasion.
The businessman who police found driving with an unlicensed semi-automatic gun last year has been sentenced to 66 months in prison.
Allison Vanterpool was also slapped with an additional four-month prison sentence for the four bullets that were uncovered with the weapon.
Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards ordered that the sentence run concurrently (at the same time).
However, Vanterpool will also have to pay a $500 fine for unlawful possession of cannabis.
What happened
On July 25 last year, Vanterpool was driving with a male passenger on Waterfront Drive in Road Town when a police officer patrolling on a motorbike smelt burning marijuana emanating from their vehicle.
The officer subsequently rode alongside the vehicle and ordered Vanterpool to pull over. The offender complied and both men exited the vehicle.
Police asked if they had anything illegal and the men allegedly turned over a quantity of marijuana.
The cops then searched the vehicle and recovered a bag, which Vanterpool said belonged to him.
While one of the law enforcers searched the bag, Vanterpool reportedly became rowdy and tried to grab it away.
He had to be restrained, the court heard. Police then recovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition during a further search of the bag.
Both men were taken into custody. However, Vanterpool accepted full ownership of the weapon.
The businessman claimed he procured the weapon for ‘protection’.
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When you can’t trust the police to protect your buisness soon we can’t carry knives either
Thatis all he gets.I find the justice system is bias and unfair in Tortola. Let it be an expatriate and you would see the difference in punishment. I would like to know that policy with judge use to make that decision.I am sick of my Tortolan countrymen doing a sh—y job under the heading of professionalism.I have been watching a certain magistrate over the years and realize that their verdict for Tortolans are usually less severe than other individuals on the island.Please, all magistrates you represent the law you must reflect unbias stands.
-Concerned country woman
You got to be an idiot
@stacy..I agree that when some one commits a crime they should be punish with out bias. However, If a person is invited into your home they should take extra care as a guess and it is more offensive when they deliberately damage your property. what would be more offensive your kids jumping on your couch or a guess.
And your point is?
Stacy – you read that right? that’s some serious time!
Up the road
“Tears in your eyes”
have you ever noticed that the news always refers to people arrested or convicted as “businessmen”? monkey business
He is a business man f– contractor at that,work for the news site if u want tho g to talk
66 months or 6 months? 5 and half years
We seem to punish the responsible gun owners and not get the reckless criminals
MAYSON GO APPEAL
With the numerous amounts of crimes that the Virgin Islands are experiencing, you would think that there would be some leniency shown. Things are getting hard some of the youths who are so accustomed to being spoiled as a child, grows up and starts looking to thief people hard earned earnings.
Check his record… has he known for violence???
If not that purnishment shouldn’t be so high. Otherwise, I would incline to agree