The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

TWO men and a woman were charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday on two separate counts of possession of dangerous drugs.

Jamaicans Christopher Williams, 55, and Nicholas Brown, 41, as well as Bahamian Cindea Miller, 24, were all charged with possession of drugs with intention to supply a reported 1.2 pounds of marijuana.

Williams faced an additional charge of possession of drugs with intent to supply for a separate 1.7 pounds of marijuana.

This comes after drugs were discovered in the men’s shared residence of Yamacraw Close after a police search of the property. On January 17, police went to the premises with a search warrant and upon entering the home found Williams trying to exit through the backdoor.

The initial search uncovered drugs located in the bathroom toilet in vacuum sealed packages. A further search of Williams’ bedroom in the suspect’s presence later uncovered an additional cache of drugs as well as $7,030 in mixed currency scattered across the bed. Both the drugs and money were officially confiscated by the police and all three suspects were charged and arrested.

In court both Williams and Miller pleaded not guilty to the joint charges while Brown alone pleaded guilty.

However, on the separate drug charge Williams pleaded guilty.

As all the accused had no prior convictions, their lawyer asked Magistrate Samuel McKinney for leniency. He pointed out that Brown had previously been an upstanding citizen as the owner of a grocery store who pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and explained how Williams was truly remorseful for his actions.

The magistrate took these factors into consideration.

Brown was fined $1,700 or nine months in prison and Williams was fined $1,200 or in default of payment, six months in prison. Upon payment of this fine both men would be released from custody.

Miller was granted a full discharge.

Another two men also appeared in court on possession of dangerous drugs with intent to supply charges.

Roman Pearson, 31, of Carmen Drive faced two drug charges after being found in possession of Indian hemp on January 17. Stephen Bain, 55, also of Carmen Drive, received a joint drug charge with Pearson.

This comes after police arrested Pearson for driving his grey Honda Fit erratically and upon searching his vehicle found two and a half ounces of Indian hemp in the car. When they then searched the suspect’s home, they found another six and three quarter ounces of Indian hemp and arrested Bain who was at home at the time.

During the trial, their defence lawyer highlighted that both his clients had no previous history with the police. He described Pearson as an educated IT worker at a local resort who was just trying to raise his seven-year-old son. He said Bain’s only crime was just being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The magistrate accepted both defendants’ plea of guilty.

Bain was fully discharged, while Pearson was granted a conditional discharge of a fine of $700 or three months in prison.

Pearson would be released after the fine is paid.