$20,000 - that is how much 21 year old Kareem Arnold will have to pay to avoid jail time. Today Arnold was convicted of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition for an incident that occurred on November 9th, 2007.
Police say they responded to reports of shots being fired at the corner of Saint Thomas Street and Meighan Avenue and saw Kareem Arnold and another individual ride away. Police set chase and saw Arnold jump over a fence and throw away a black object. Arnold was eventually apprehended and a point 25 calibre pistol loaded with 3 live rounds. In court, Arnold denied owning the gun or fleeing from police. Magistrate Aretha Ford however convicted him of both charges.
The incident occurred before the amendment to the Firearms Act and so instead of confining him, she fined him $10,000 for possession of the gun and another $10,000 for the possession of the ammunition. He has to pay the $20,000 by January 2010 or face 2 years in jail.
Kareem Arnold is tonight however still in jail on remand for a separate case of aggravated assault with a firearm.
