A case against a man who pleaded guilty last Saturday to charges of breaking into a home in the City and stealing items worth $4,201.70, is likely to be concluded next Monday.
In pleading guilty, Kemar Renaldo Barton, 22, of no fixed place of abode, had told the District ‘A’ Traffic Court that the complainant in the case, Kevin Johnson, had said that once he was refunded the money, he would no longer be pursuing the matter.
Against this backdrop, acting Magistrate Elwood Watts remanded Burton to HMP Dodds and adjourned the matter until today so that the court could determine if what Barton said was true.
Police, however, were unable to locate Johnson and the case was adjourned until next Monday to give them another opportunity to locate the Guyanese national, who did not attend court today since he was not notified he had to do so.
On July 15, Barton entered Johnson’s home as a trespasser. Besides $3 000 in cash, he took a Samsung S3 cell phone valued at $800, a Guyanese passport and a pair of jeans. When police arrested Barton, he handed over only the cellular phone and US$140.
When Barton reappeared in court today, his employer verified that Barton “gives me a hand” as a casual when there is work. When asked, the employer said he believed Barton lives “in Reed Street or someplace like that” in the City but could not say definitively where.
When Barton subsequently asked for bail to spend his daughter’s birthday with her tomorrow, acting Magistrate Watts remarked: “But you think if you work for him and he does not even know where you live, I will know where you live when the court wants you?”
He added: “If you live, and she (Barton’s daughter) lives and you behave yourself, you will be able to see many more of her birthdays. I’m sorry, but not this particular one. I didn’t go into anybody’s house and take up anybody’s property. You should have thought about (that) before.”
Barton was again remanded in custody until his re-appearance in court next Monday.