Stepson ‘inherited’ unlawful gun from ‘Screechy’
(CNS): Jerry Daniel Archer (41), the stepson of notorious local gangster Carlos Renton Russell, aka “Screechy”, pleaded guilty to the possession of a gun last week but asked the court not to send him to prison for the mandatory minimum seven years. Archer told police after his arrest in April 2022 that he had indirectly and unknowingly inherited the firearm from his late stepfather after he found it at the bottom of a tool bag that he had been given after Russell died.
Archer appeared in court last week for a sentencing hearing following the guilty plea he made earlier this year to the possession of an unlicensed firearm. Despite his admissions, Archer is arguing that there are exceptional circumstances surrounding the case.
His defence attorney, Prathna Bodden of Samson Law, said he should not have to serve the full seven years because this situation was completely different to cases where people intentionally have guns or even carry them in public places, and the sentence should reflect that.
The gun was discovered when police, acting on intelligence, raided his home. Archer had told one person in confidence about finding the black handgun with a loaded magazine in his stepfather’s tool bag after he had searched for a specific type of wrench for a home project.
Knowing his father’s history, he said, he did not know what to do because if the gun had been used in a crime, he thought he would get the blame. He believed at the time that the best course of action was to keep the weapon until there was a gun amnesty and then hand the weapon in anonymously.
Russell was believed to be living a law-abiding life by the time he died in the summer of 2021. Known as “Screechy” on the street, he had served more than half of an eleven-year sentence for the manslaughter of Phillip Wayne Watler at the Cayman Islands Hospital in an infamous gang-related shooting. He was released in 2011, but a few years later he was badly injured in a brutal machete fight with his brother. After this, he began to live a much quieter life.
Archer did not know his biological father and Russell was the only father he had ever known, though he was aware of his criminal history. However, Archer grew up to be a hardworking man who had no criminal record and held a job as an administrator in the financial sector.
When the police came to Archer’s house, he immediately went to find the weapon. He walked outside with it in his pocket and told the police that his wife and son, who were also in the family home, knew nothing about it. He also admitted to having a small amount of ganja for his own use in the house and told them where it was.
During his interview, he explained how he had found the gun, the concerns he had that he might be implicated in some crime his father had committed, and how he had no idea what to do other than hold onto it until there was an amnesty.
The police learned that the 5mm semi-automatic pistol had been purchased in the US several decades before. Although it was working, it had not been used for many years and there was no evidence it had ever been used in a crime in Cayman. Archer was charged, nevertheless. He admitted the possession at the earliest opportunity and has since been remanded to HMP Northward.
As she explained the case to the court, Bodden argued that it would be unfair for her client to serve seven years and that the court had the discretion to consider not just the circumstances of the possession but the circumstances of her client. She said that obviously, with hindsight, he realised he should have contacted the police as soon as he found the firearm. But she pointed out that while people should be able to trust the authorities, that is just not always the case.
“This is someone who just panicked,” she said, noting that since his arrest, his family had been heartbroken and could hardly believe what had happened. Bodden said this was not about “one glaring exceptional circumstance” but a collection of reasons that together make the circumstance exceptional.
Justice Cheryll Richards, who is presiding over the case, said she would take time to research previous exceptional circumstances in other firearm possession cases and deliver her decision on 4 October.
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To those ppl that know Jerry and have spoken truthfully about him, Thank you 🙏🏼.
To CNS, for the record, Jerry knows his biological father, and so does his mother. He had a very close bond with his biological father until his passing in 2018.
Almighty God is our judge, so regardless of what anyone, who feels negatively about Jerry, we’ll pray for you also.
However, the Laws should be applied fairly, if some can import FIREARMS and get bail without conditions, will NEVER return to court, then the same could and should be considered to all.
We love you Jerry and pray God will be with you during this very difficult time 🙏🏼
Jerry is not the person to be facing the courts, he is just not the person and this has nothing to do with his nationality but more to do with his character. I really hope that the justice system will look not at the family’s background but at the man.
someone he confided in betrayed his trust.
Clearly just that. Same thing happened to a former law enforcement officer as well. They (RCIPS) knew where exactly to search.
What people fail to realize. Anytime they search your premises, it’s clearly because of intel. Meaning someone tipped them off. It’s no setup. You told your friend, and your talked on you. (Not your friend then).
Explain to me how a fish is caught, yea I thought so. Because he/she opened its mouth.
let me get this his stepfather killed someone and got 11 years this man panicked a law abiding citizen good job and you going to out him in jail for maybe 7 years? Child rapists get a slap on their wrist
We didn’t see any reporting of whether a Social Inquiry Report was requested. Does CNS know? These reports are extremely helpful in sentencing considerations.
I figure law enforcement isn’t the same as they used to be. Understandably with all the shootings over the years. However this could have been a judgement call for charges, and or lesser charges.
The legal system must be the legal system. But on the other hand–Cayman has become a “let’s see how many cases we can prosecute, and how many cases we can win” just like most other jurisdictions. ‘Stripes’ are being sought. Not necessarily what is evidential of the truth sorry to say. Knowing Jerry myself for over 25 years, I am dishearted to learn of this case.
I have to disagree with you there. This certainly isn’t about any stripes being sought from the RCIPS side. The only person who received any stripes here would be the one “archer told in confidence”.
The law is the law and it’s clear in the Firearms Law 2008 revision.
“Archer had told one person in confidence about finding the black handgun”.
He shouldn’t have said anything to anyone in confidence. He should’ve gone straight to the police and said that to them in confidence. That would’ve been the right thing to do.
Cayman is nothing but too lenient.
Only to the foreigners!
I have mixed feelings on this case. I think the gun should have been turned in to a pastor, however, I pray for God Almighty to be his judge.
If he was a tourist, he would have already been let off with a fine.
You’re absolutely right!
So sorry that this is happened to Jerry. Always knew him to be a good, kind, hardworking, sensible, and law-biding young man. I hope that he will gain a favourable judgement from the Court and it rips the judiciary and Police for such nonsensical charge, arrest, and remanding after the circumstances of the case here. Unfortunately, Jerry should’ve panicked and called a lawyer first to get advise and then call the Police once he found the gun…he should’ve never had spoken a word of the gun to no one because now you see what happened!?!?
This sounds to me like an appropriate case for a suspended sentence.
Pure fuckridge – man neva hurt no one & the gun wasn’t used in years but they still lock the brudda up. Kmft the laws on this island are actually a giant load of bullshit. Just take the weapon & let the man go smh
Would the “I hope the court is lenient” people still say the same thing if “poor little Jerry” wasn’t Caymanian ???
11:43 a.m., Expressing my hope for leniency for Jerry has nothing to do with being Caymanian or non Caymanian. If I knew a non-Caymanian in such an unfortunate situation, and I knew that person to be an honest, kind and respectful person as I know Jerry to be, then my answer to your question would be a resounding yes.
Such a good young man, always polite from as a child when I first met him. Sorry to hear that this has happened to him and given the circumstances I hope that justice is merciful and kind.
He certainly was a very decent well mannered person. His mother’s heart must be breaking. She was always so proud of him. I pray it will work out well for him and his family.
Dumb dumb dumb! If Archer was aware of the VERY strict zero tolerance gun possession laws in Cayman then he should have just dumped it in the abyss and moved on with his life instead of playing Tupac n Biggie with gun in his possession.
However in light of his mitigating factors I hope the judge is behooved to give him a extensive and massive community service penalty instead of destroying his life with 7 years in prison for a dumb judgment call.
This case is an interesting one.
The risk that he would have taken transporting the firearm is massive. Imagine if he was caught with it on the road in a car.
11:04, Based on what is written in this article, it would seem to me that what could be termed dumb was if perhaps Jerry discussed the situation he found himself in with someone he thought he could trust. Wonder who made the report to police? Yeah, me too. Reeks of setup don’t it? This is what can happen when trying to do right.
should have dropped it in the sea Bobo.
This is very sad news. I have known Jerry from when he was a baby and saw him grow to become a fine young man. Always a polite, well mannered and kind soul. His honesty and willing cooperation with the police speaks to his character. It is so unfortunate that this has happened to Jerry and I pray that the court will be very lenient in sentencing, and allow him to build a good future with his family.
Very sad situation. I’ve known Jerry all his life and found him to be a nice young man. He just recently got a new job and was so excited to be able to provide for his family. I hope mercy and exceptional circumstances will be found. He is a good person