Drug fine for Christ Church youth

A 25-year-old Christ Church man was convicted of four drug charges in the Magistrates’ Court on Friday, but was fined $500 on just one and must pay up by next month to avoid time behind bars.

Jabari Kerien Best, of Round Rock, Silver Sands, pleaded guilty to the offences of possession of cannabis, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to supply, and having a trafficable quantity of cocaine.

Station Sergeant Peter Barrow disclosed that police officers were conducting operations along the Sayers Court, Christ Church area on January 26 when they observed Best in the company of two other people.

A search was conducted of his car, and a white bottle containing marijuana was found in the centre console, while another bottle with cocaine was found under the back seat.

“That is my weed that I does smoke,” Best told police about the marijuana, but he denied responsibility for the cocaine, saying, “I don’t know nothing about that.”

The cannabis weighed 13 grammes and had an estimated street value of $100 and the cocaine was 3.52 grammes with an estimated street value of $176.

Best has two previous convictions dating back to 2014.

Mitigating on his behalf, attorney-at-law Mohia Ma’at urged Magistrate Deidre McKenna to show his client leniency as he had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had not wasted the court’s time.

Ma’at said the young man was also gainfully employed with the volcanic ash programme and his convictions dated back to 2014.

For the possession of the cannabis, Best was reprimanded and discharged. He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the offences of intent to supply and possession of cocaine.

However, he has one month to pay the Oistins Magistrates’ Court $500 for having a trafficable quantity of cocaine. If he fails to pay the sum, Best will spend three months in prison.