Woman fined $14,000 for marijuana

A 22-year-old mother of three was on Wednesday slapped with a fine of $14,000 after pleading guilty to possession of over 34 pounds (15,0000 grams) of marijuana.{{more}}

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young gave Sherika Prince, a babysitter of Gibson Corner three months to pay the fine or spend the next two years behind bars. Adding to her woes, Prince was ordered to do two hours of community service every week starting next Monday.

On October 18, 2007, at about 6:30 am, Screening officers at the E.T Joshua Airport conducted a search on a suitcase that looked suspicious. On examination of the suitcase, six brown taped packages of marijuana were found in it.

Investigations carried out into the matter later that day led to Prince. She was picked up by the police, and when questioned by the officers and shown contents of the suitcase, she initially denied ownership of the drug. Under caution Prince replied: “Officer, I don’t know anything about that”.

Prince’s lawyer, Ronald Marks, told Magistrate Young that his client had a rough childhood, having been raised by a single mother. Marks said that Prince was forced to work at an early age because she had to support her first child at the age of 14. Marks said that Prince was laid off at a restaurant and the pressures mounted for her. He further added that someone, who wanted to use her as a drug mule, approached Prince. Marks said she was told that there were no risks involved and the parties at the airport were part and parcel of the operation.

The vibrant lawyer said his client was used and taken advantage of. Marks asked Magistrate Young to be lenient with her client and that if a custodial sentence was imposed, that it be suspended, not for her sake, but for the sake of her children.

Magistrate Young chided Prince for her actions. “I don’t know when it became acceptable for a woman with children to do illegal things to provide for their children. It is nonsense,” Young said. “I cannot believe you would put your life and your children’s lives on the line,” Young further stated.

The magistrate’s words brought tears to Prince’s eyes. Young told Prince that she needs to respect herself and that she must look at herself as a woman of self-worth. “You are only 22. You don’t deserve to have three kids at this age. you need to do better for your children,” Young said.