The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

A MAN found himself in Magistrates Court yesterday accused of owning $42,000 worth of dangerous drugs seized by police this summer.

Jonathan Shepherd, 23, appeared before Magistrate Constance Delancey on two counts of possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply.

It is claimed that he was in possession of 37lbs of marijuana and a half pound of cocaine on July 17 with intent to supply to others. The drugs have a combined street value of $42,000.

The accused, having pleaded not guilty to the charges, will stand trial on January 15, 2015.

The man no longer faces a mandatory minimum sentence of four years if convicted as the sentencing law was declared unconstitutional in September by then Supreme Court Senior Justice Jon Isaacs.

While the magistrate’s discretion in sentencing matters has been restored, she does not have the discretion to consider bail.

She remanded him to the Department of Corrections (prison) and advised him of his rights to apply to the Supreme Court for bail.