NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Several people arraigned in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday were given non-custodial sentences after being charged with possession of dangerous drugs and intent to supply.
The men and one woman appeared before Chief Justice Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.
Cabreo Cash, 19, of Washington Street, was charged with possession of dangerous drugs and pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors alleged that on December 7, officers were patrolling the area of Podoleo Street when they saw Cash, who began to act suspiciously upon seeing police.
Officers searched him and found a clear plastic baggie with 10 foil wraps with marijuana inside his right jacket pocket.
They also seized $34 in cash from him.
Cash reportedly admitted to owning the drugs in his interview under caution with police.
His attorney, Ian Cargill, asked the court to show leniency given that he cooperated with police and pleaded guilty early.
Cash was granted a conditional discharge and ordered to attend substance abuse counseling for three months, perform 100 hours of community service and submit to random drug testing.
Demico Dorsette, 22, was charged with one count of simple possession and one count of possession with intent to supply.
The prosecution told the court that on December 8, officers acting on information went to a residence on Robinson Road with a search warrant.
Officers searched the residence and also searched a 2007 Honda Accord vehicle, where they found a clear plastic bag in the driver’s door, a ziplock bag on the passenger floor and another clear plastic bag in a blue backpack on the back passenger floor — all of which had silver foils of marijuana totaling five and five-eighth grams, valued at $30.
Officers also searched a stone block by the rear fence of the residence and found a Cheetos Puff bag containing seven silver foil wraps, weighing 16 grams and valuing $80.
When searched, officers found a Honda key on Dorsette, who told police the vehicle belonged to him and later admitted that the drugs were also his.
He was arrested along with two other men. Dorsette pleaded guilty to both charges.
His attorney, Cargill, said the young man was making a positive contribution to society before he was let go by his job and asked the court for leniency on his behalf given that he had no previous convictions.
Dorsette was fined $500 or three months in prison on the possession with intent to supply charge and granted a conditional discharge on the simple possession charge, given that he attends substance abuse counseling for three months and submits to random drug testing.
The prosecution made application to withdraw the charges against the two other men.
Jared Maycock, 28, was charged with possession with intent to supply and pleaded guilty.
Prosecutors alleged that while on Eleuthera, officers on mobile patrol observed a group of men playing dominoes and saw that Maycock began to act suspiciously.
He was searched and police found a plastic bag in his front pocket with 27 silver foil wraps, weighing 27 grams and valued at $135.
During his interview with police under caution, Maycock admitted ownership of the drugs.
Ferguson-Pratt warned the man, who has a previous conviction of simple possession, to “stop this lifestyle”.
“This drug culture among young people in this country is escalating minutely,” she said.
“…You are jeopardizing your freedom.”
Maycock was fined $750 or three months in prison.
Verron Ferguson also pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply.
Prosecutors said on December 8, Ferguson was stopped by police in a heavily tinted black Honda Fit.
He was searched and officers found 15 clear plastic bags of marijuana on him — five in his mouth, seven in his left pocket, two in his right pocket and one that fell out of his pants.
The drugs weighed 19 grams and were valued at $80.
Ferguson was fined $500 and ordered to attend drug counseling for three months.
Miguel Joseph, 31; Dannieka Ferguson, 22; and De’Angelo Bethel, 31, were charged in separate incidents with possession of dangerous drugs and all pleaded guilty.
Joseph was arrested on Martin’s Close off Cowpen Road after officers searched him and a group of other men.
He indicated to officers that he had foil wraps of marijuana on his person. He was granted a conditional discharge with three months of substance abuse counseling and drug testing.
Ferguson was arrested around 1.50am on December 5 on East Street and Soldier Road.
Officers found five foils of marijuana and a rolled joint in her backpack weighing eight grams and valuing $40.
She admitted the drugs were hers because she wanted to “smoke it for the weekend”.
She was granted a conditional discharge and three months of substance abuse counseling.
Bethel, who was arrested on December 4 for one gram of marijuana valuing five dollars, was fined $100.
As she offered her sentencing to each defendant, Ferguson-Pratt warned that possession of dangerous drugs is still a crime, insisting that each individual take a look at where they are and make better decisions.
She noted that because many of the defendants were relatively young, she believed in giving them second chances.
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