By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 29-year-old man, who was found with marijuana yesterday, was fined $500.
Police arrested Denero Balfour after they found 13 grams of Indian hemp in his home on May 17.
He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession during his hearing before Senior Magistrate Derence Rolle Davis.
The court was told that around 6.10pm that day, officers, acting on information, went to Balfour’s residence armed with a search warrant. The prosecution said when they arrived, the officers saw the accused who appeared to look in their direction before running into his home. The officers then followed him, knocked on his door and identified themselves.
The court was told that they heard movement in the house, so they breached the door. Once inside, they informed Balfour that he would be searched in connection with dangerous drugs and firearms. During their investigation, they found 10 silver foil wraps in the area of the accused’s groin. A further search of his bedroom also led to the discovery of a plastic bag containing another quantity of marijuana. Balfour was subsequently arrested.
Yesterday, Balfour told the magistrate he had bought the drugs for his personal use.
As a result, Magistrate Rolle Davis accepted his guilty plea and fined him $500 or one month at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Meanwhile, Daniel Johnson, 28, was charged with simple possession after officers found him on May 6 smoking a joint that contained two grams of marijuana.
Prosecutor Timothy Bain said around 2.30 that afternoon, a police officer on foot patrol in the West Bay Street area observed Johnson smoking a homemade cigarette. When he approached the accused to question him, he noticed a strong aroma of marijuana. Johnson was then arrested and taken to a nearby station where he admitted the offence in an interview with police.
During his hearing before Deputy Chief Magistrate Andrew Forbes, Johnson also pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession. He was granted a conditional discharge on the agreement he would attend drug counselling classes for one year.
Magistrate Forbes said if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be convicted and sentenced to three months in prison.
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