The fate of a 39-year-old man who stole 550 pounds of plantain is now in the hands of Magistrate Alison Burke.
But Omar McDonald Sealy, of Clifton Hill, St Thomas will have to wait the sentence on the remand block at HMP Dodds until Friday, June 19.
Before that can happen the District ‘F’ Magistrate will hear from Keith Forde, the farmer, who was deprived of his produce.
The adjournment was given after Sealy pleaded guilty to stealing 100 pounds of Forde’s plantain worth $172 between May 22 and 23 as well as another batch between June 3 and 8. The second set weighed 450 pounds and was worth $787.50.
Forde has been a farmer for the past 38 years and grows plantains on three acres of land at Sugar Hill, St Joseph. Station Sergeant Glenda Carter-Nicholls in reading the facts said Forde realised that the produce was missing after he received certain information, went to investigate and discovered that four trees had been cut differently from the others.
The farmer did another thorough check of his plantation in early June and again found that his produce was missing. The matter was reported and Sealy was developed as a suspect and arrested. A warranted was executed and 146 pounds of the produce found. A restitution order has been granted to return them to the farmer.
On his first appearance before Magistrate Burke today Sealy threw in the towel and admitted to the praedial larceny charges as well as assaulting Decoursey Roach, on May 23.
Prosecutor Carter-Nicholls said Roach was involved in a dispute with another man about blocking his driveway with a vehicle. As he confronted the man, whose name was not disclosed in court, Sealy walked up armed with a sword, raised it and approached Roach demanding that he allow the man to move. The complainant fearing for his life complied and the man was allowed to drive away just before Sealy picked up two bags containing plantains, placing it in the vehicle.
The prosecutor also revealed that Sealy has 12 convictions, including one for theft of 60 pounds of sweet potatoes.
