Homeless man gets 18 months on armed robbery charge

– probation report outlines difficult life of teen

Ezekiel Kevin Grant, previously identified in court documents as ‘Kevin Charles’, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment on Friday after appearing virtually before acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.
The sentencing followed the presentation of a probation report that not only detailed his troubled upbringing but also revealed his true identity and age.
The probation report disclosed that Grant, who is 20 years old and hails from Lamaha Springs, Georgetown had grown up in an abusive household with no meaningful relationship with his father and a mother struggling with alcoholism.
He dropped out of school in second form due to financial challenges and eventually left his father’s home after a series of conflicts. With no stable residence, Grant lived in an abandoned house in Sophia and later moved in with friends.

It was during this time that he began using alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, which, combined with peer influence, led to his involvement in petty crimes for survival.
The report also revealed that Grant is a self-taught construction worker but has a history of theft that caused his mother’s partner and other family members to distance themselves. Residents and relatives described him as having a habit of stealing and displaying hostile behaviours.
Grant’s latest offence involved the armed robbery of Davindra Singh on November 30, 2024.
Police stated that Grant, along with an accomplice, robbed Singh of a Samsung phone and a black wallet containing $10,000. During his court appearance in December, Grant admitted to committing the robbery under the influence of alcohol.
He initially claimed he acted alone but later identified his accomplice as Dominique Eastman. Grant admitted to using a knife during the robbery, holding the victim by his jersey while Eastman retrieved the wallet.
While Grant claimed the belongings were returned, he admitted to spending some of the cash. He also disclosed that he had been living on the streets since the age of 14, with no family to support him.
During Friday’s hearing, Chief Magistrate McGusty referenced Grant’s probation report and acknowledged his difficult upbringing. While he begged for a second chance, she noted that he could work and needed to address his behaviour. She questioned him about how he would feel if someone robbed him of his earnings, to which he initially said he would do nothing, before acknowledging he would report the matter to the police.
The Magistrate emphasised that while she understood his circumstances, his continuous involvement in criminal activities needed to be addressed. She encouraged him to take advantage of the rehabilitation programmes and vocational training offered in prison to better himself. She expressed hope that the time spent in prison would provide an opportunity for him to learn a trade, read, and improve his life.
The probation report also highlighted Grant’s history of petty crimes and revealed that he had been remanded for six months in 2024 despite not being officially charged at the time. In that case, he had claimed to be 19 years old, though the report confirmed his current age as 20.
This sentencing follows a history of legal troubles for Grant, including a February 2024 robbery where he and Eastman allegedly stole an iPhone and cash on Water Street. The prosecution objected to bail at that time, citing his lack of a fixed address, but he was later released. Months later, Grant was implicated in the November robbery, leading to his remand in December and his subsequent sentencing.
Grant’s behaviour and repeated offences prompted the Magistrate to impose the 18-month sentence, stating that his actions required firm intervention. He will remain in prison until his sentence is served.