By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Court Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A FORMER prison officer was found guilty yesterday of smuggling drugs into the prison.
Herman Major, 63, appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney for the conclusion of his trial. He was accused of possessing dangerous drugs with intent to supply and taking prohibited items into a correctional facility.
On April 20, 2022, Major is accused of smuggling five and three-quarter pounds of marijuana into the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services, concealing the drugs in a brown taped package. Later that day, officers, acting on information, seized the drugs, which had a street value of $5,750.
Following the defendant’s trial, Magistrate McKinney found him guilty and fined him $5,000. He could spend nine months in prison if he does not pay the fine. He was further fined $2,500 for the contraband charge or risk an additional prison term of six months.
Major’s attorney, Christina Galanos, indicated an appeal will be filed against the conviction.
In a separate case, Patrick Sturrup, 29, appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville on a charge of possessing dangerous drugs with intent to supply.
On April 18, Sturrup was arrested after he was found with 1.2oz of Indian Hemp.
He pleaded guilty and said the drugs were for his personal use. This resulted in the charges being reduced to simple possession of dangerous drugs.
The accused was granted a conditional discharge. He is expected to attend six months of drug counselling at Medicentre. Should he fail to do so, he would face a fine of $2,500 or a three-month prison term.
Sturrup is expected to return to court on October 20.
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