The Tribune

By PAVEL BAILEY

A MAN was charged in Magistrate’s Court yesterday after being found in possession of dangerous drugs in his home.

Jonathon Johnson, 27, appeared before Senior Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday on two counts of possession of dangerous drugs charges. This comes after his arrest on January 25 when police issued a search warrant to enter Johnson’s home on Malkin Road and found him in possession of two clear plastic bags suspected to contain drugs.

The contents of those bags were later confirmed as three grams of cocaine and an additional six grams of Indian hemp.

A further search of the premises including in the defendant’s bedroom revealed three large caches of cash scattered throughout the house adding up to $23,530.

While this money was seized by the police following the suspect’s arrest, there was no clear connection between the money and the drugs found in Johnson’s home. Johnson also stated during his interview with police that he did not come in possession of that money through the sale of drugs and as such the Drug Enforcement Unit is investigating that matter separately.

In court, Johnson pleaded guilty to both counts of drug charges and confessed to the magistrate that the drugs were for his personal use. He said he had no intention to sell them.

Johnson’s lawyer also pointed out that he had fully cooperated with police during his post-arrest interview and had no prior antecedents. Given the fact that his client had also taken full responsibility for his actions, Johnson’s lawyer asked the court to be as lenient as possible in sentencing.

Magistrate McKinney fined Johnson $600 or six months in prison for the marijuana charges and an additional fine of $300 or three months for the cocaine charges; upon payment he would be released from custody.

In a separate matter, another man was charged with possession of dangerous drugs.

Keanu Rolle, 22, also appeared before Magistrate McKinney yesterday on a single count of drug possession after being arrested by police on January 25.

This came after Rolle was pulled over in his vehicle by police who then searched him and found the suspected drugs in a clear plastic bag concealed near his groin. Further analysis of the substance confirmed it to be Indian hemp with a total weight of 1.3 ounces, which Rolle would later admit to authorities belonged to him.

In court Rolle pleaded guilty to the drug charges. He said he only took the drugs to deal with his brother’s funeral that previous Saturday and the subsequent death of his grandmother that Monday.

While the suspect had a previous drug offence dating back to July 2021, given his cooperation with authorities and these extenuating circumstances, Magistrate McKinney sentenced Rolle to a fine of $400 or two months in prison.

Upon payment of this fine, Rolle would be released from custody.