Sentence pending for cousins caught with marijuana

Two family members, who admitted to cultivating almost $40 000 worth of weed near their residence, are currently waiting to find out their fate.

In the meantime cousins 29-year-old machine operator Rasheed Antoine Squires and 23-year-old mechanic Dwayne Anthony Franklyn, from Rendezvous Terrace, Christ Church are each on $7 000 bail.

They are set to reappear before Magistrate Kim Butcher on August 31 for sentencing as a pre-sentencing report has been ordered on Franklyn.

The men pleaded guilty to joint charges of possession, possession with intent to supply and traffic as well as cultivation of 9.55 kilogrammes or $38 200 worth of cannabis. Squires also admitted to separate offences of possession, possession with intent to supply and trafficking of 397.5 grammes or $1 987.50 worth of cannabis. The offences were committed on June 7.

Station Sergeant Randolph Boyce told the court that Squires attempted to run when he saw police near his residence. He was caught. The officers were there to execute a search warrant.

On taking him to his backyard 107 marijuana plants were discovered in the soil.

When asked to account for the plants, he said, “These are mine and my cousin Dwayne marijuana plants.” A loose quantity of cannabis as well as seeds, stalks, leaves and stems were found in bags and containers in a bedroom of the residence which Squires said was his.

“It is just some shake off to smoke .
. . . Dem there is mine officer,” Squires told police.

A warrant was then executed at Franklyn’s residence and he was subsequently taken to the backyard and told to account for the plants. He said, “These are my cousin and I marijuana plants.”

Before Magistrate Butcher today both men apologized for their actions.

Squires, who is known to the court said, “I am sorry for committing this crime. I have a family and responsibilities. I try something. It wasn’t worth it. I begging for leniency. It will never happen again.”

Franklyn, a first time offender said, “I am sorry for committing the offence. I never committed an offence before. I asking for leniency.”

The mother of one of the men said she knew that the plants were in an area outside her residence but she does not venture to that side of the property.

Magistrate Butcher expressed concern following that revelation.

“This is the problem with this country . . . mothers are aware of the junk that their sons are doing and say nothing about it.

“When the police start taking up entire families and not just the people who say that it is in their possession, Barbados will clean up faster. Because there is no way that you can have almost 40-grand of weed planted, behind or in front or wherever it is by your house and you are going to tell me ‘I don’t venture there’.”