semi-automatic pistols, 88 rounds of ammunition, and five cans of chemical mace spray -- cost him $3,000 in fines when he appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Timothy William Trout, 27, of Chicago, Illinois, was charged with possessing the handguns and ammunition without a licence, and possessing five cans of chemical spray.

Trout, a senior executive with Northstar Financial Services, arrived in Bermuda on business with a local exempted company on September 16.

Prosecutor Insp. Peter Duffy said Trout brought four steel filing cabinets which he said contained documents relating to his work.

Customs officers asked him to open one of the eight drawers and inside they found the one handgun and a cleaning kit. A more extensive search was conducted, and the second gun was found along with five canisters of chemical spray and several loaded magazines.

Insp. Duffy said Trout immediately admitted the guns and ammunition were his and cooperated with Police.

Trout told Police he neglected to check whether the firearms were still inside the filing cabinet drawer, and pointed out he had a licence to carry the guns for his own protection in the United States.

A Police check revealed that he did possess a licence to carry firearms in the US.

Trout's lawyer Mr. John Barritt said his client regretted the position he now found himself in.

"This offence stems from the haste with which he left Chicago,'' Mr. Barritt said. "He told an assistant to get the filing cabinet from his house and he had not inspected it himself. The ammunition was separate from where the guns were stored.'' Mr. Barritt pointed out it was legal for people to carry firearms in the United States and that Mr. Trout had no previous problems with the law, and had not tried to conceal the weapons.

"They were found in the first drawer he had opened, and he admitted ownership and cooperated fully with Police. He has an impeccable record and is the first in command of a large exempted company at the young age of 27.

"His guilty plea has saved the court time and he voluntarily returned to the Island to face these charges.

"I ask you to bear in mind the ramification this conviction will have on him and his business.'' Mr. Barritt cited several cases where people had been before the courts for firearms offences, and argued a period of imprisonment would not be appropriate since incarceration was reserved in most cases for people who had used firearms in committing other offences.

"The facts and circumstances of this case, the weight of recent authorities, and his voluntary return to the Island to face the charges, allow justice to be served in this case if a fine is imposed,'' he said.

Insp. Duffy who, did not make any recommendations for sentence, said Trout's cooperation was an important feature of this case.

Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis told Trout that although the laws in the US were different from those in Bermuda, he wanted to make it clear that the courts took firearms offences seriously.

"You are here because of negligence,'' he said. "But I want to send a clear message that even if there is negligence involved, we take these offences very seriously.'' He then fined Trout $1,000 on each charge.

ILLEGAL WEAPONS POSSESSION GUNS