St Michael man fined for having large quantity of drugs

Illegal marijuana grower Pedro Sean Atherley has a year to pay a $13 000 fine.

If the Belmont Road, St Michael resident does not pay the amount in the stipulated time, he will spend eight months in prison.

Magistrate Alison Burke imposed the sentence on Atherley on Friday after he pleaded guilty to charges of possession, possession with intent to supply, having a trafficable quantity and cultivating the illicit substance on September 12, 2023. The cannabis weighed 9162.10 grammes and had an estimated street value of $40 400.

Police Constable Ralph Rollock told the District ‘A’ Magistrates’ Court that law enforcement officers were carrying out operations at an abandoned house along Belmont Road when they came across 103 cannabis plants at the rear of the premises.

They also found eight containers of seeds in a bag and another separate container with the substance.

The now-convicted man was also seen on the property and was questioned.

“I plant them there. I was trying a thing,” Atherley, who already has two prior convictions, told the police.

Addressing the court on Friday, Atherley said that he suffered from sinus problems and another ailment and found, through research, that the drug could give him some relief.

“I stumble on one thing about marijuana trees . . . . It kind of help me,” he stated, adding that the marijuana was not for distribution.

“The seeds were to make a paste, like peanut butter.”

When the magistrate informed him that was illegal, Atherley replied, “I decided to take a chance.”

He was convicted, reprimanded and discharged on the possession and trafficking charges and reprimanded and discharged on the supply charge.

The fine was imposed on the cultivation charge.

Atherley has been ordered to reappear in court on September 14, 2024, for a review of the payment of the fine.