The Tribune

By FARRAH JOHNSON

fjohnson@tribunemedia.net

EIGHT fishermen from Spanish Wells and Eleuthera who were accused of using prohibited apparatus to catch fish were each granted $1,000 bail ahead of their trial.

Headly Sweeting, 70; Kirkwood Pinder, 51; Garrison Sweeting, 44; Michael Wood, 35; Andy Albury, 32; Travis Sweeting, 31; Trevon Smith, 23; and Kristian Saunders, 18, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after they were allegedly found with an air compressor on June 11. The prosecution said the defendants intended to use the apparatus to catch fish.

All of the defendants denied the allegation and the matter was adjourned to August 31 for trial in Eleuthera before Magistrate Kara Turnquest-Deveaux.

Meanwhile, Ernest Ferguson, 50, was arraigned before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after he was accused of stealing and receiving a white 30’ Proline motor vessel with two 300 horsepower four stroke Yamaha engines sometime between March 20 and 21. According to the prosecution, the stolen items, which belonged to Kelsey Bridgewater, had a combined value of $143,000.

During the hearing, Ferguson denied the charges and the matter was adjourned to August 17 for trial.

Bail was denied and the defendant was remanded to the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.

His attorney, Donna Major, told the magistrate she was in the process of applying to the Supreme Court for bail for her client.