A teenager was warned yesterday that if reports reaching Magistrate Christopher Birch that he breached his community service order were found to be true, he could be facing a three-month jail sentence.
The stern warning was given to Kemar Shaquiel Garnes at the District ‘C’ Magistrates’ Court before he was remanded.
Garnes, 17, will return to court on Monday allowing for further investigations to be carried out.
The Four Road, St Philip youth was placed on a 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. curfew and given 240 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a loitering charge in June this year. He was to complete his assignment at a public market by October 2.
Since Garnes had not fulfilled that obligation by then, he was granted an extension to do so.
However, his probation officer brought him back to court yesterday after complaints were made that Garnes had stolen money from an employee at the market on one occasion.
There was also a document to reflect additional time he spent doing his community service.
“So you decided to falsify your documentation . . . would that be correct?” asked Magistrate Birch.
Garnes denied it.
“No Sir . . . that was the first time I ever went in that office.” He further explained that the supervisor had told him that once he is not around, he [Garnes] could record his time.
“If I investigate and find out that you are lying to me, you have three months waiting for you,” Birch warned.
He then ordered an additional report be conducted and the supervisor’s presence at court next Monday.