27-year-old gets maximum sentence for trying to sneak items into prison

A 27-YEAR-old with 18 previous convictions who was charged last week with attempting to introduce prohibited items into the prison has been imprisoned for six months – the maximum prison sentence allowed by law for the crime.

A factor that played into the sentence for Calliaqua resident, Jahmol Carter was that the offence seemed to show a degree of planning in trying to get a bundle containing marijuana, lighters, high leaf, Sunset strong rum, a cell phone and cell phone batteries into the prison.

Information also surfaced that the name ‘Jacket’ was written on the packages, and possibly referring to a prisoner who is on remand for murder who carries the alias.

JAHMOL CARTER

The prisons compound located in the capital Kingstown is abutted by a street in Paul’s Avenue and has in the past been used as a convenient route for persons wishing to throw items over the wall and into the confines of the facility.

This information was known to police Constable 482 Edwards who headed a party of Special Services Unit(SSU) personnel on patrol at 12:45a.m on March 9.

While driving, the police saw that two men in Paul’s Avenue, in the vicinity of Her Majesty’s Prison were acting in a suspicious manner. Edwards, being the driver of the transport, turned the vehicle into the area, and the corporal caught sight of Carter whom he has known for over a decade. Edwards drove in front of Carter and blocked him from running. The officers quickly exited the vehicle and approached the men but an unknown male took off and evaded capture.

The SSU searched a purple backpack in Carter’s possession and they were said to be first greeted by the odour of cannabis. In a black plastic bag four packages were found: one black, one transparent and two wrapped in brown tape. There were also two bottles that previously contained soda but now contained strong rum.

“Officer is somebody give me to throw over,” he told them.

There was a cord in the backpack that was to be attached to the prohibited articles and used to lower them into the prison yard after being thrown over.

Further examination of the items at the Narcotics base revealed: four packages containing cannabis, nine cellphone batteries, one ZTE cellphone, and tobacco.

Carter was charged with possession of 629g of a controlled drug, as well as for the offence of attempting to introduce items into the prison.

He was sentenced by Chief Magistrate, Rechanne Browne at the Serious Offences Court (SOC) on March 10.

She first considered the offence of introduction into prison of prohibited articles, informing Carter that the law allows for a fine and imprisonment of up to six months for the offence.

The magistrate chose to start her calculations at 75% of the maximum or 4.5 months, after considering that the seriousness and consequences of the offence were both high.

When considering what is aggravating about the offence, she said “we see a great level of planning. That is clear.”

This was because of time of day the incident occurred,the way the items were packaged, the equipment attached, and type.

There were no mitigating factors for the offence. In terms of Carter as an offender, it was noted that he has an awareness of a prison facility having been convicted 18 times previously.

He was considered to not have shown any remorse in what he said to the court on that day. However, it was recognised that the defendant was still relatively young.

In light of all the circumstances the court decided to impose the full six month prison sentence.

On the issue of possession of marijuana, a two month prison term was decided upon.

The drug is to be destroyed and the items confiscated.