Man Tells Court “I’ve Found The Lord”
In Plea Court on Friday [Oct 4], with Magistrate Juan Wolffe presiding, James Dana Stovell, 44, of Southampton, pleaded guilty to unlawful common assault and was given a three month prison sentence, suspended for one year.
Crown Prosecutor Cindy Clarke told the Magistrate that on 30th August 2012, Stovell had been in Casey’s Bar on Queen Street. Stovell had left there and gone to the vicinity of the Washington Lane bus terminal. There he had pulled a person out a taxi saying that this person owed him money. Stovell had said: “You owe me money.”
In reviewing Stovell’s record, the Magistrate noted that Stovell had a record going back more than two decades. The Magistrate also noted that Stovell seemed to ‘come up’ every two years with his last appearance in 2010.
In his defence and in mitigation, and assisted by Duty Counsel Oonagh Vaucrosson, Mr Stovell informed the Magistrate that he was now working as plumber having lost his job. That he was taking care of a teenage daughter and a young son, and that he was also the principal caregiver for his grandmother.
The Magistrate was also informed that Mr Stovell had found Christianity this year and that he had been baptized. Mr Stovell told the Magistrate: “I apologize. I have changed and turned my life around. I’m not a violent person.”
Mr Stovell also said that he had found the Lord. The Magistrate commented that he had also “lost the Lord on that night.” The Magistrate further commented that many people tend to “use the Lord” when it’s convenient to them.
Saying that: “Your actions speak louder than your words…” and “You’ve been before this Court before for assault”; the Magistrate said that in all the circumstances, and considering a fine to be inappropriate, he would sentence Mr Stovell to three months in prison but would suspend the sentence for twelve months.
The Magistrate concluded the hearing by telling Mr Stovell that: “You are a full grown man with two children. There’s no reason why you should be engaged in this kind of behavior.”
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Criminal: I’ve found The Lord your honor.
Judge: That’s great. I’m sending you to prison so the Lord will always know where to find you too.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!! That’s what they nearly all say until the next time in court!! Tell him he needs to look harder – because they hid the “key” very well!!!
I guess we all know the lines to trot out if we’re ever found guilty of anything. “I’m turning my life around, I’ve found de Lord, I have a job now, and my grown up children will be upset if I can’t look after them”.
Since he has found the Lord than he should have no problem doing honest jail time.