👩‍⚖️ Woman gets 10 years for boyfriend's illegal firearm

Thalia Ashanti Barnes, a 25-year-old mother, was sentenced to ten years in prison for the possession of her boyfriend's unlicensed firearm. The court found no exceptional circumstances relating to Barnes or the crime, leading to her conviction in December 2022. The details of the case were only recently revealed when the sentencing ruling was published on the court website in June 2023. This case serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences for anyone even remotely connected to unlawful weapons. 🚔

Barnes was arrested following a police raid on the home she shared with her boyfriend, Marcus Manderson. The police found an unlicensed semi-automatic pistol in the couple's bedroom. A DNA swab from the firearm could not exclude Barnes, leading the jury to conclude she must have known about and touched the weapon. Despite Barnes' claim that she feared her boyfriend and had no involvement with the gun, both she and Manderson were convicted of illegal possession of the gun and ammunition. 🏛️

During sentencing, Barnes' attorney argued for leniency due to her fear of Manderson, who has a long criminal history, and the fact that the gun had not been used in a crime. However, the court ruled that making poor relationship choices did not constitute an exceptional circumstance. Justice Richards handed down a ten-year prison term, with time served to be taken into account. ⚖️