Man vacations behind bars
From the Courts
December 18, 2009

Man vacations behind bars

American national, Jarod Arbritton only intended to spend two days of his vacation here. Unfortunately, he ended up spending his entire holiday in police custody.{{more}}

The New York native pleaded guilty on Monday, December 14, at the Serious Offences Court to possession of two grams of marijuana.

Chief Magistrate Sonya Young took into account the time served on remand in relation to the possession charge and fined him $150 for importation of the controlled substance.

On Saturday, December 12, at about 12:15 pm Arbritton arrived at the E.T. Joshua Airport from St Lucia. He cleared Immigration and Customs, but was then approached by Corporal Duane Bailey and a search was requested.

Upon a search of his luggage, a white bottle was discovered containing multi-vitamins and two wrapped pieces of aluminum foil containing marijuana. When cautioned, Arbritton said that he bought the drug from a taxi driver in St Lucia and forgot it in the bottle.

Highly amused by Arbritton’s explanation, Magistrate Young could not restrain herself from laughing. She said couldn’t believe he brought weed to these shores and that it was a shame he came to St Vincent and didn’t get to see any of it.

“So, you spent your whole vacation locked up…I can’t believe this…if it was someone else sitting on this case and told me what happened I wouldn’t have believed,” Young chuckled.(KW)