Two get opprtunity to keep record clean if community service performed well

Two men who pleaded guilty to drug charges have been given an opportunity to keep their criminal records clean.

They are King Imenelek Phillips, 19, and Hubert Artis Larocque, 31, both of Lower Burney, Mapp Hill, St Michael.

Phillips pleaded guilty to possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of 54 grammes of cannabis worth $270; while Larocque pleaded guilty to similar charges in relation to 711 grammes of cannabis with an estimated street value of $3 555, as well as possession of apparatus, namely an electronic scale.

Magistrate Alison Burke, presiding over the District ‘A’ Magistrate Court, heard that police executed a search warrant at Phillips’ residence on June 14 where a haversack containing vegetable matter, for which the teenager took responsibility, was found.

Larocque was also at the residence. According to the prosecutor, he was seen with the scale, parcelling out the cannabis. Plants were also found for which he took responsibility.

Attorney-at-law Asante Brathwaite mitigated on behalf of both accused and urged the court to show leniency to the first-time offenders. She also urged the magistrate to keep their records clean by either reprimanding and discharging them or imposing community service for their offences.

Magistrate Burke granted the lawyer’s request, ordering that Phillips perform 160 hours of community service and granting him $2 000 bail. He will reappear in court on August 27.

Larocque, meantime, was ordered to carry out the maximum community service allowed – 240 hours. He secured $3 000 bail and returns to court on September 24.

“If the hours are adequately performed you will be reprimanded and discharged. This is an opportunity to keep your records clean,” Magistrate Burke told the young men before they were released.