Brown Hill man fined $800 for drugs possession
Teenage girls bailed on drugs charges

By Pauline Waruguru
Nevis Reporter-SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Left~~ CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - GAVIN PATTERSON, a resident of Brown Hill, appeared before Magistrate Yasmine at the District “C” Magistrate’s Court on Monday (Jan. 5) and was fined EC$800 for possession of cannabis.

Patterson, who pleaded guilty to the charge, will have to pay the fine within two months and, if in default, will be jailed for two months.

According to the facts of the case, officers from the Charlestown Police Station executed a search warrant on the premises of Patterson on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 and found a quantity of cannabis sativa wrapped in a transparent plastic bag in his bedroom.

Shortly before Magistrate Clarke announced the fine, Patterson, who was unrepresented, said, “In a case like this, there isn’t much I can say.”  He explained to the court that he had kept the weed for personal use.

On the following day (Jan. 6), two female teenagers, aged 14 and 18, appeared before Magistrate Clarke on separate drugs charges.

The juvenile was arrested and charged with possession of cannabis sativa with intent to supply; an offence she allegedly committed on Tuesday, December 23, 2008.

She was placed on EC$10 000 bail with two sureties and has to return to court on Tuesday, January 13.

The 18-year-old pleaded not guilty to possession of illegal drugs and was granted bail to the tune of EC$5 000 to which Police Prosecutor Inspector Trevor Mills did not object.

She was allegedly caught with the drugs when the police executed a search warrant on her premises on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. She has to return to court on Tuesday, February 10.