The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was fined in Magistrate’s Court yesterday for deceiving a public officer and driving with a fraudulent licence plate.

Edison Sweeting stood before Assistant Chief Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans to answer to the charges.

At 11.55pm on February 11, he was stopped for driving his Ford Taurus dangerously on Meadow Street near his home. During the stop, Sweeting lied to an officer. He was further charged with using a fake licence plate and was later arrested at his residence.

During a subsequent police interview, he admitted to the offence.

While Sweeting had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in his first court appearance in February, he subsequently changed his plea to guilty of both offences.

Sweeting’s attorney, Audrey Bonaby, told the court that her client has been a mechanic since high school alongside his father and had been a model citizen. She went on to say that the accused had no prior charges and had a promising future as he hoped to enlist in the Bahamian armed forces. Ms Bonaby asked the court to exercise its discretion and grant leniency in this case.

The magistrate then convicted Sweeting for the deceit charge, fining him $800 or two months in prison.

However, Sweeting was granted a conditional discharge on the remaining charge provided he donates $250 to the RBPF’s Widows and Dependents Fund. Failing to do so would result in two months in prison on a sentence that could potentially be served consecutively with the deceit charge.

Magistrate Vogt-Evans informed Sweeting of his right to appeal her ruling.