Court Wranglings - Teen to be sentenced for larceny next month

WESTERN BUREAU:

A teenager from Cornwall Courts in Montego Bay, who pleaded guilty to stealing items valued at $90,000 from a car, is booked to return to court for sentencing on September 11.

Eighteen-year-old Shavel Muir pleaded guilty to simple larceny against Daniella Wilmot when she appeared before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

She was previously before the court on Monday on a charge of housebreaking and larceny arising from the same incident, but at that time she told the court that she had found the items in a car.

"Tell me where you found the items. Where did you find them? In a car?" Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris asked for clarification.

"Yes, Your Honour," Muir confirmed.

When Muir was brought back to court on Tuesday, RM Harris asked that a social enquiry report should be done for the defendant, to assist in determining a sentence for her.

"I'm going to offer you bail, $50,000 with one or two sureties. As condition of your bail, you will report to the Mount Salem Police Station every Monday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m.," the RM ordered.

SEVERAL ITEMS STOLEN

The facts are that on August 8, Muir stole several items, including a laptop computer, two cellular phone SIM cards, jewellery and $4,300, all the property of Wilmot.

Wilmot attempted to dial the numbers on the stolen SIM cards, and a male voice answered one of the numbers. Arrangements were made for them to meet at the Baywest Centre in downtown Montego Bay.

The investigating officer, who had been informed by the complainant, nabbed the man and took him to the Mount Salem Police Station for questioning.

Further investigations led to Muir being arrested and charged.

• MoBay men acused of stealing tools remanded

WESTERN BUREAU:

Two Montego Bay men who allegedly broke into another man's storeroom on August 13 and stole mechanical tools valued at $225,000 have been remanded in police custody for their criminal records to be brought to court.

Athol Rose and Donovan Robinson are answering charges of storeroom breaking and larceny allegedly perpetrated against Gerold Baugh.

Rose submitted a not-guilty plea to the charges in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, while Robinson pleaded guilty with explanation.

"Is true him (Baugh) ask me to keep an eye on the tools. Your Honour, I'm begging you a chance because if I never keep an eye on the things I wouldn't have gotten involved," Robinson told Resident Magistrate Vivienne Harris.

JUDGE REFUSES PLEA

But on hearing Robinson's story, Harris refused to accept his plea of guilty with explanation, and submitted a not-guilty plea for him instead.

"Being asked to keep an eye on the things does not make you guilty of stealing them. I'm not accepting your plea."

Meanwhile, Rose admitted that he had a prior conviction on record, but did not state what offence he had been charged with.

Both men were subsequently remanded in custody until August 28, at which time their criminal records are expected to be brought before the court.