Drug abuser found guilty of cocaine possession

A self-proclaimed crack addict has landed himself a six-month prison sentence after he was found guilty of three drug possession charges.

Yesterday at the Serious Offences Court, Michael Griffith pleaded not guilty to having five grams of cocaine in his possession in Kingstown on January 15, 2017. He, however, pleaded guilty to having one rock of cocaine at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) on January 15, and to having four grams of the drug on January 16, 2017 at Level Gardens.

According to Police, officers were on foot patrol on Sunday, January 15, when they met Griffith at Yankees on Higginson Street. However, as they walked towards Griffith, he moved away and went to the church gate, where he threw something and walked away. The officers pointed out their observations and found 18 foil wrapped packages containing the drug around the gate.

When officers showed the drugs to Griffith, he replied, “I don’t know about that; I went there to pee and saw it.”

Griffith was taken to CID and one rock of cocaine was found during a routine search.

He admitted to having the rock of cocaine stating, “once I see the police, I went to the church gate and put it in my shoe, but the police see me first.”

During their investigations, the police officers obtained a search warrant for Griffith’s home and found a plastic bag containing two rocks of cocaine.

He was then taken back to CID where the drugs were weighed in his presence.

Yesterday, Griffith offered no statements of mitigation, but admitted that he abuses the drug. Upon hearing this, Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias pointed out that although Griffith does not see it, he has a serious problem.

She further stated that her concern is that when persons abuse this drug, it is uncertain whether it would kill them or not.

In addition, Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpesche said Griffith has a clean sheet; however, he should be awarded the opportunity to flush his system.

“Cocaine kills,” the prosecutor asserted.

Shortly after, the Chief Magistrate stated that the offence warrants a prison term, during which time the drug would be able to leave the Level Gardens man’s system.

Griffith was sentenced to six months imprisonment for the five grams of cocaine, an additional six months for the six grams of cocaine and four months for the one rock of cocaine.

The sentences will run concurrently and a destruction order was made on the drugs. (AS)