Fined for drugs

A Christ Church man avoided a three-month stint in prison today when a family member stepped in and paid a $750 forthwith fine on his behalf.

The sum was imposed by Magistrate Douglas Frederick after Rommel Marlon Gittens, of 2nd Avenue Licorish Village, My Lord’s Hill pleaded guilty to having $90 worth of cannabis in his possession in the wee hours of this morning. He also pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to supply and having a trafficable quantity of the illicit substance.

Sergeant St Clair Phillips told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that lawmen executed a search warrant at Gittens’ residence around 3:10 a.m. today. Two bags were found in the living room containing vegetable matter. Asked to account he told police that the substance was given to him by a friend.

“It’s marijuana leaves. When I get in last night . . . the same time the police came to execute their warrant and found the marijuana,” Gittens said.