Mugshots of Kevon Barclette, left, and Shemar Coward. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Two men face a slew of charges which carry lengthy sentences after officers caught them with unlicensed firearms.
Shemar Coward and Kevon Barclette are both charged with possession of a weapon with altered identification marks and unauthorized possession of ammunition which are punishable by maximum sentences of 15 and 7 years respectively. The two are also both charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm which carries a maximum incarceration of 20 years. Among the other charges against Coward are the offenses of failing to obey a police officer, operating a vehicle in a reckless manner, brandishing or exhibiting a deadly weapon and possession of ammunition.
The pair were arrested at around 3:00 p.m. on December 4 when officers observed them not wearing seatbelts while traveling on Rumar Road. According to the probable cause fact sheet, officers followed the vehicle which contained three males and observed the rear passenger exiting when it came to a stop. The officers then stopped their vehicle to inform the driver of the violation but upon noticing the police, the rear passenger ran while the vehicle immediately drove off. Although the officers activated their siren to effect a traffic stop, the vehicle slowed down and the driver, later identified as Shemar Coward exited while the vehicle was still in motion. The vehicle consequently struck a parked car.
Police observed Coward carrying a partially unzipped backpack with the butt of a long gun visible and they subsequently instructed him to drop the weapon. However, he reportedly ignored these orders and continued running. According to the officers, it appeared that Coward was trying to free the rifle from the bag while running and an officer observed him turning with the weapon still partially in the bag. That officer then discharged one round into the ground while giving commands, forcing Coward to drop the bag. He was ordered to the ground and arrested. The weapon in the bag was later determined to be a KG K15 (AR-15 type) rifle.
Meanwhile, a second officer approached the vehicle where the front passenger Kevon Barceltte was detained after complying with orders to step outside. Officers conducted an inventory of the vehicle which revealed a Glock 23 firearm with an obliterated serial number and a fully automatic conversion kit. They also discovered a drum magazine with a capacity of approximately 50 rounds.
At an advisement hearing on December 10, public defender Mary Ann Matney requested that Barclette’s bail be set at $10,000 with an allowance for him to be released on the posting of 10 percent. Matney recommended that the defendant be allowed to reside with a third-party custodian and be subjected to electronic monitoring. However, Kevon Barclette’s bail remained as initially set at $25,000 after the court determined that his suggested third-party custodian was not suitable. No appropriate alternative custodian could be presented to the court at the time, and it is expected that another motion for release will be filed.
Court documents indicate that Shemar Coward’s bail conditions were decided at an advisement hearing on December 8 where the judge determined that his bail would be set in the amount of $10,000 with an allowance for the posting of 10 percent. The remainder of the bail amount will be in the form of a bond signed by the defendant and his approved third party custodian.
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