White dismisses seriousness of prior crimes as convictions reach 65

Dale Andrew White’s criminal convictions increased to 65 on Monday after he admitted to three drug offences.

However, the 48-year-old resident of Bonnetts, Brittons Hill, St Michael described the offences on his rap sheet as “little petty things”, telling Magistrate Graveney Bannister that he had never been charged with major offences like murder or rape.

White made the comments as he addressed the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to having possession, possession with intent to supply, and trafficking of 17 grammes or $85 worth of marijuana on February 11.

“I didn’t know that was so much herb. It was a bag that I find on the ground,” said White who told the court that his plan was to give some of the cannabis to a friend and sell the remainder, but police held him before he could execute his plan.

The illegal substance was found in the waistband of his underwear during a search conducted while he was in police custody in connection with another matter.

“They didn’t search me properly, they just put me in the cell and I had it in my waist here,” White said as he pointed to his pants.

“I was honest and he still charge me, I didn’t believe that he would do that to me . . . . I gave the law the weed.”

He sought to assure Magistrate Bannister that it was the last time that he would be before the court for such an offence.

“I won’t be in the court again for herb; this is the last time. Sir, I good, I does work and thing, do garden work, handy jobs,” White said.

The court pointed out that he had been before most of the magistrates in the District ‘A’ jurisdiction.

“All I had is herb. I didn’t doing any crime, I didn’t doing nothing foolish to make myself look shame . . . . I was behaving myself, that’s the honest truth. I didn’t mean to be in front you,” White insisted.

When informed that he had 62 convictions, White responded: “But they have men that have more than that, Sir. All my convictions is bear pettiness Sir, not a killing, or murder or rape. All I had is herb. I didn’t know I had so much herb . . . . I know I got nuff convictions but none ain’t for rape, none ain’t for crime, for robbery. All them [are] petty little things.”

He also made it clear to the court that he did not want to go to rehab centre Verdun House and did not need help.

“I don’t break houses no more. I don’t tief no more. I does walk society roads like everybody else. I behaving myself. I am not a hard-done criminal,” he maintained.

The magistrate remanded the convicted man to Dodds until March 13, pending a probation report.

“If you giving me time, give me time. If you letting me go, let me go. I don’t want to go on remand,” White said shortly before being escorted from the court.