Caught “going through the back”, more trouble awaits Brandon Taylor

Waiting at home is a likely trip back to the courts, where Taylor was supposed to be this morning for the conclusion of a case of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

But neither Taylor nor attorney Leeroy Banner was present as Magistrate Emmerson Banner (not related to Leeroy Banner) found Taylor guilty.

Police said they saw Taylor lay down a Taurus brand 9 mm loaded with 17 live rounds of ammunition on the street after walking into a yard on August 8, 2017, but he denied knowledge of it. Nonetheless, he twice failed to show for trial.

Taylor’s defense was that police could not prove he knew about the gun they said they found near the yard. He called one witness in support.

This is Taylor’s first conviction for a gun offense and only his second for any offense. He has been charged with multiple crimes including several murders, but never convicted.

Magistrate Banner fined him $3,500 each plus two $5.00 cost of court fines.  The first fine is to be paid by September 30 of this year, and the other $3,500 fine is to be paid by October 30, 2019 in default, 3 years on each.

Taylor pleaded guilty earlier this year to membership of a criminal gang, the George Street Gang and its subset, the George Street Click, and was fined. He was out on bail for this offense from the Supreme Court.

Clare, meanwhile, was out on bail after being accused earlier this year of membership in another GSG subset, Afghanistan Click, to which he pleaded not guilty.

Clare was charged jointly with 3 other men: 27-year-old Shane Harris, a resident of George Street; 27-year-old Henry Cornejo, of Berkeley Street; and 23-year-old James Matthew Palacio, of Iguana Street.