Possession: Three Appear in Magistrates Court

In Magistrates Court this morning [Jan 13], a twenty-two year-old man plead guilty to the charged of possession of 0.4 grams of cannabis. The charge arose after Police stopped him on Kindley Field Road on 11 September 2010. On being stopped, he dropped a white package that the Police retrieved. When questioned about the package, he said that it was “a little bit of weed.”

After pleading guilty and speaking in his defence, the man said that he: “…had made a mistake and had learned from it. I am now volunteering and working with young people.” He said also that he had completed his GED in a program run by the Seventh Day Adventist church and was now working as an Assistant Manager (Marketing) with a local retail store.

After hearing his defence and after putting further questions to the defendant, Chief Magistrate Archie Warner said that: “Bermuda is a strange place. It is well-known that dealing with drugs is a serious offence. I am satisfied that everyone should be or is aware about the dangers of doing drugs and the consequences of a drug conviction.”

The Magistrate continued: “Being convicted of drugs in Bermuda is serious. You’ve told me that you should know better, that you are sorry now, and are taking steps to redeem yourself. In the circumstances, I am not going to record a conviction against you. The law is the law and I must enforce it but I can and must also exercise discretion. I hope that you continue on the path you are on.”

The Magistrate handed down a decision of a Conditional Discharge for twelve months saying that he must commit no further offence or offences within that twelve month period.

In the same session before the same Chief Magistrate, another two men were also charged with possession of illegal drugs. Both pleaded guilty. A 19 year old man plead guilty to possession of 4.7 grams of cannabis in a Hamilton Bar on 06 August 2010; and Joshua Butterfield pleaded guilty to possessing 0.6 grams on Palmetto Road on 25 September 2010.

Given the opportunity to speak in his defence, Butterfield, with one previous drugs conviction said that he had made a “stupid choice”. He also asked for time to pay his fine. Time was granted, and he was given until 13 February to his $1,000 fine.

#CrimeInBermuda #DrugsInBermuda #MagistratesAndSupremeCourt

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