When two Christ Church men made their first court appearance, they both pleaded guilty to the same offence of giving cause to suspect that they were about to commit theft.
However, while Jabriel O’Bryan Archer, 21, of Gall Hill was granted bail, Akeem Deshawn Carter, 18, of Kendal Hill Main Road, was remanded to HMP Dodds.
When they reappeared before Magistrate Douglas Frederick today, presentencing reports which were ordered were presented to the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court.
The facts were that someone who saw Carter in the area of the Garfield Sobers Roundabout attempting to remove tyres from a vehicle, called the police.
When lawmen arrived, they saw Carter walking in the area and Archer sitting in a car on the opposite side of the road. Neither could give a satisfactory account of his presence there.
When they were subsequently interviewed by police, both men admitted that they were there to steal the tyres. Archer further told police that he was waiting until Carter was through to transport the tyres.
Carter explained to the court that he went to steal the tyres because “somebody tell me that they want them.” “The person who did want it, only one tyre blow out,” Carter added.
Archer told the court that he never went to steal anything but he saw Carter on the day while he was on his way to the gas station. Archer said Carter asked him to come with him.
Archer also recalled telling Carter to “come along” but before he could respond, the police arrived. Carter was already on 18 months’ probation at the time of the offence.
Today, after reading the presentencing reports, Frederick ordered Archer to perform 120 hours of community service while Carter was given three months behind bars.
Carter, who has already spent two months on remand, begged the court for leniency. “I learn my lesson, Sir. I can’t handle prison,” he remarked. Asked to explain further, Carter said there was no soap and he slept on metal.
“So you thought it was easy?” Magistrate Frederick asked.
“I didn’t know what it was, Sir. This is my first time.”
When the court reminded Carter that his presentencing report said that during his probation he had kept bad company, used marijuana and had been disrespectful to his mother, he assured the magistrate that he had changed.
“What is going to stop you from disrespecting your mother? What is going to stop you from using marijuana?” the court questioned.
“Since this experience, the people I used to disrespect is who looking out for me now… Sir. Please Sir… just one chance Sir,” he pleaded.
“That means it (prison) is working miracles then if it can turn you around in two months,” Frederick responded.
Carter also asked to be placed in either a drug rehabilitation or anger management programme.
Taking the two months spent on remand, the magistrate sentenced Carter to one more month. He is also to undergo drug rehabilitation and anger management while he is incarcareated.