The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN on trial in the magistrates’ court accused of conning 13 prospective car owners of $30,000 was back in two courts yesterday being arraigned on more fraud charges totalling more than $38,000.

Shane Mackey, 31, appeared first before magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis facing 24 charges of fraud, namely conspiracy to commit fraud by false pretences and fraud by false pretences.

It was claimed that between August 2012 and January of this year he conspired to commit fraud and did defraud 14 individuals of $20,500 cash.

Mackey denied all of the allegations before this court and pleaded not guilty, electing to be tried in magistrates court.

His trial date is scheduled for May 13, 14, 15 and 16 before magistrate Rolle-Davis.

Following this arraignment, Mackey was brought before magistrate Guilimina Archer facing another 14 fraud charges.

It was alleged that between November 2012 and January this year, he conned seven individuals of $17,650.

Mackey further denied these allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges, electing to be tried in the same court.

His trial dates are scheduled for May 28 and July 11.

Prosecutor Desiree Ferguson of the Attorney General’s office objected to Mackey being granted bail sighting that he was serving a prison sentence for a conviction of a similar nature and had pending matters before magistrate Rolle-Davis on similar charges.

The magistrate asked Mackey about this and he said that his five year sentence handed to him in 2009 finished in July last year.

His attorney, Alex Dorsett, argued that his client could not be considered a flight risk as he attended all of his matters before the courts.

However, bearing in mind the submissions from both counsel, and the need to verify Mackey’s antecedents, magistrate Archer did not grant him bail.

Kaylicia Cartwright, 22, a co-accused on one of his charges, was granted $6,000 bail after pleading not guilty to conspiring with and abetting him to commit fraud on January 23.

Henria Cooper, 38, of Cowpen Road, who is charged along with Mackey on multiple dockets for both courts, was absent from yesterday’s proceedings.

A doctor’s note was presented to the court, which the magistrate accepted, saying she would be fit for court in seven days.

Her arraignment has been stood down to February 27.