Rilland Hill man gets two years for cannabis possession

A Rilland Hill man was sentenced to two years in prison earlier this week after being found with 106 pounds of marijuana at his home.{{more}}

The sentence was handed down on Tuesday by Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias, after 29-year-old welder James Lewis pleaded guilty to having the drugs in his possession with intent to supply.

Lewis was arrested on March 10 this year, when Sergeant 93 Dwayne Bailey led a party of Rapid Response Unit (RRU) officers to his home, armed with a search warrant.

During the search, officers found a black nylon sack, a black knapsack, a black garbage bag and two brown taped packages, all containing the drugs under a bed on the upper floor of Lewis’ two-storey house, about 5:20 a.m.

After being cautioned, police say Lewis stated, “That is my weed, I am trying to hustle it off so I could take care of my son.”

He was then arrested and taken to the Drug Squad base, where the cannabis was found to have a weight of 48,124 grams (106 pounds).

Lewis asked the court to impose a fine and to give him time to pay.

“This is a lot of drugs; a term of imprisonment seems very heavy in my consideration,” Browne-Matthias replied.

“That’s a lot of cannabis,” she reiterated, before standing down the matter so she could make a final decision.

When recalled to the stand, Lewis told the court that he is the father of three children who currently live with their mother.

The Chief Magistrate, however, noted the quantity of the drug and sentenced him to two years imprisonment.

She then made a destruction order on the drugs after informing Lewis that he could appeal his sentence.(AS)