Magistrate offers teen another chance to stay out of prison

A 16-year-old boy from a village in North Windward walked away from the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, December 12, counting his lucky stars.

The teen appeared before magistrate Rickie Burnett, charged with the theft of a blue and black Azumi cellphone, a charger and a white adapter, valued at $240, the property of Marva Archibald.

Archibald, with the permission of the teachers, had placed the mobile phone in a classroom at the Georgetown Primary School to charge on Sunday, October 1. When she attempted to retrieve the phone, it could not be found.

Archibald met a grade three pupil of the school, who informed her that the young man had removed it. The child told the court that after seeing the young man with the phone, charger and adapter, he told the young man he was going to tell Marva. The youngster replied “Me nah kay” and rode off on his bicycle.

In the courtroom the young man claimed the child was telling lies on him because the nine-year-old knows he normally takes people’s things. The little boy also stated the young man was wearing a blue pair of pants and black shirt when he saw him with the phone. 

The teen insisted that was a lie, as he does not own a blue pair of pants. The court erupted in laughter, because the young man was on the stand, dressed in a pair of blue pants.

Magistrate Burnett asked the young man if he knew of a boy who was given a bicycle by a magistrate; the 16-year-old confirmed that the boy was his brother.

Prosecutor Delroy Tittle, in addressing the court, said he is certain that residents of the area would be happy if the young man is off the street this Christmas. 

Persons in the courtroom nodded and an elder of the community was asked to stand. The resident stated the youngster was a menace, but much of that has to do with his parents. He also told the court that the young man and his siblings all have the same attitude and he will be appearing before the court shortly with another brother of the defendant.

Burnett decided to give the young man another chance and told him it is now up to him to stay out of prison, because at his age, his record does not stand well. A six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months was the sentence handed down.

The teen is currently on curfew and community service for other matters in which he was involved. The police informed the court that the youth was not abiding by the curfew and only shows up at the police station when he feels like. 

Magistrate Burnett issued a stern warning to the young man and told officers if he does not show up on Friday, December 15 and Saturday, December 16, he should be brought back to court on Monday, December 18.(CJ)