By: Emmanuel Tobotinho Quiah
Monrovia-The Fourth Judicial Circuit Court in Maryland County has sentenced Lewis Saywon to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty to Theft of Property, Terroristic Threat, and Burglary.
The judgment was handed down Wednesday, September 16, 2026, during the 32nd day of the August 2026 Term of Court, with Assigned Circuit Judge Cllr. George S. Wiles Jr. presiding.
Court records indicate that the case initially included an Armed Robbery charge. However, the prosecution later moved to remove the charge from the indictment, allowing the remaining three counts to proceed.
The court granted the prosecution’s request and dismissed the Armed Robbery charge with prejudice.
Following the amendment of the indictment, the Clerk of Court was instructed to read the remaining charges to Saywon and take his plea.
Saywon subsequently pleaded guilty to Theft of Property, Terroristic Threat, and Burglary.
Before accepting the plea, the court questioned Saywon to establish whether he understood the charges against him and whether his decision to plead guilty was made freely and voluntarily.
According to the judgment, Saywon confirmed that he understood the indictment and voluntarily entered his guilty plea.
The court consequently determined that a full trial was unnecessary, noting that under Liberian law and judicial practice, a trial is generally not required in non-capital cases when a defendant knowingly and voluntarily pleads guilty after being properly informed of the charges.
The court therefore proceeded directly to sentencing.
In its ruling, the court found that Saywon had admitted responsibility for the three offenses and sentenced him to four calendar years in prison.
The court, however, credited Saywon for time already spent in detention.
Court records show that he had spent approximately one year and six months in detention prior to sentencing. That period was applied toward the four-year sentence.
Based on the court’s calculation, Saywon is required to serve an additional two years and five months in prison, commencing September 16, 2026.
The court said the punishment was intended, among other purposes, to deter other young people from unlawfully taking the property of citizens.
Following the ruling, the court ordered the Clerk to prepare a Permanent Commitment and submit it to the Sheriff for enforcement.
The commitment is intended to facilitate Saywon’s continued detention at Harper Central Prison for the remainder of his sentence.
The judgment was signed by Cllr. George S. Wiles Jr., Assigned Circuit Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Maryland County.
The court document reviewed for this report does not disclose the specific property involved in the theft, the circumstances surrounding the alleged terroristic threat or burglary, or the identities of the persons allegedly affected by the offenses.
The case therefore concludes with Saywon’s guilty plea and sentencing on the three amended charges, while the original Armed Robbery count was dismissed with prejudice.
About The Author
