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Police arrest homeless woman for lockdown breach

Lisa Brown
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Police arrest homeless woman for lockdown breach

Nassau, BAHAMAS-Police treated a homeless woman like a criminal for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

The lockdown restricted residents to their homes from 9pm on April 24 until 5am on April 27.

However, officers arrested Carine Ceremy after she told them that she had no home.

Police arrested Ceremy, 37, around 12:45am on August 25 at John Road.

She was standing outside the car that a friend allows her to sleep in.

Ceremy pleaded guilty to violating the lockdown at her arraignment.

She explained to the court that the car owner lives with an aunt.

However, Ceremy said she’s not allowed in the aunt’s home.

Ceremy said the car is small. So, she occasionally comes out of the cramped car to stretch her legs.

According to Ceremy, that’s what she was doing when police arrested her.

Despite Ceremy’s guilty plea, the court did not punish her for failing to comply with the lockdown restrictions.

That’s because the prosecutor used his discretion and withdrew the case.

Nowhere to go

In response to questions posed by the court, Ceremy said that no relatives took her in.

Ceremy claimed she had stayed in a shelter, but they refused to house her beyond 14 days.


The magistrate said he would make inquiries to see if he could find a shelter to accommodate her.

The government has implemented curfew and lockdowns in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

Police have prosecuted more than 500 offenders since the restrictions came into effect on March 20.

Violators face fines up to $10,000 and prison sentences up to 18 months. But some of those imprisoned have been homeless.

In Grand Bahama, Deputy Chief Magistrate Debbye Ferguson sentenced a homeless man, Carl Johnson, to one year in prison for breaking the curfew. Two other homeless men were fined for failing to remain at home.

Adam Outten was fined $500 or three months in prison. James Toussaint was fined $1,000 or three months in prison.

 

 

 

Alleged gang enforcer denied bail in 2019 murder

Lisa Brown
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Alleged gang enforcer denied bail in 2019 murder
Mario Brown

Nassau, BAHAMAS-A man who prosecutors say is a high-ranking enforcer in a street gang will remain in prison until his murder trial, a judge ruled.

Mario Brown, 30, is accused of the February 10, 2019 shooting of Jamaal Kemp at Potter’s Cay Dock.

Justice Cheryl Grant-Thompson denied bail for Brown “to ensure the safety of the public” and that he appears for trial.

Prosecutors allege that Brown is a “high-level street enforcer for the Top Side Kemp Road One Order Gang.”

What’s more, they claim he traffics drugs for the One Order gang.

Brown allegedly has ties to international gangs, prosecutors allege.

Prosecutors called Assistant Superintendent Darron Nixon, the deputy commander of the Central Intelligence Bureau, to testify about Brown’s alleged gang activity at his bail hearing.

Justice Thompson said, “I am of the view that the release of the applicant on bail would be detrimental to the protection and safety of the public.

“I find that the only way it is certain that the applicant would be present for his trial and that the public is safe is to remain in the custody of the state at the Bahamas Department of Corrections.”

Brown’s trial is scheduled for February 7, 2022.

Woman fined for hot tea assault

Lisa Brown
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Woman fined for hot tea assault

Nassau, BAHAMAS-A Jamaican woman who threw hot tea in another woman’s face has been fined.

Shanell Brown, 24, scalded Nicola Chambers around 11:25am at the Mayfair Hotel on West Bay Street. The tea injured Chambers’ face and right eye, the court heard.

It’s not known what provoked the assault.

Brown pleaded guilty to causing harm at her arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney on April 4. She didn’t have a lawyer.

The magistrate ordered Brown to pay $500 in compensation to Chambers, who is also Jamaican.

Brown must also pay a fine of $500 to avoid spending three months in prison.

 

 

Policeman held for alleged curfew breach

Lisa Brown
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Policeman held for alleged curfew breach

Nassau, BAHAMAS-A policeman arrested for a curfew breach could face internal disciplinary action.

Officers arrested their colleague outside a bar in Cumberbatch Alley around 4pm on April 23, where seven civilians were playing dominoes.

The constable’s family owns the bar. He was at the lock-up in Police Headquarters when the civilians appeared in court on Friday.

Julietta Bain, 38; Latisha Woodside, 26; Shantia Mackey,41; Jean Ale, 54; Emmanuel Louis, 42; Patchranell Evans,27; and Wilkins Oscar, 26, pleaded guilty to breaking the national curfew when they appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

Prosecutor Bridgette Strapp said officers acting on information went to the Cumberbatch Alley, where they saw a group of people sitting down and playing dominoes.

Sgt Strapp said the officers asked them whether they were aware of the 24-hour curfew, which restricts residents to their homes unless they are conducting essential business.

The magistrate ordered Mackey, Ale, Louis, Evans, and Oscar to each pay fines of $400 to avoid spending four months in prison.

McKinney fined Bain $250 or three months in prison. And, the magistrate banned Woodside from any other curfew breaches for a year. If she’s arrested for breaking the curfew during this period, she would have to pay a $500 fine to avoid three months in prison.

The nationwide curfew implemented on March 20 aims to stem community spread of the coronavirus.

As of today, there are 73 local cases of COVID-19, with 11 deaths. Globally, there are 2.8 million cases, including 198,532 deaths.

Senior citizen appeals $400 fine for taking walk

Lisa Brown
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0
Senior citizen appeals $400 fine for taking walk

Nassau, BAHAMAS-A senior citizen arrested for going walking during the coronavirus lockdown has lodged an appeal against his $400 fine.

Magistrate Sandradee Gardiner had given 71-year-old Charles Johnson until April 24 to pay the money to avoid spending one month in prison.

However, the sentence will be spending pending an appeal.

Police arrested Johnson at Andros Avenue around 5:30pm on April 11.
They didn’t give him police bail, so he appeared in court in shackles.

Johnson admitted to violating the lockdown at his arraignment on April 15.

Gardiner told Johnson that at his advanced years made him more susceptible to the coronavirus, which is responsible for 11 deaths in the country.

She said, “At 71, you are part of the vulnerable group. You don’t need to be out there.”

The magistrate suggested that Johnson walk around his yard or jog in place for exercise during future lockdowns.

The government has implemented lockdowns and curfews in an attempt to contain the local spread of the coronavirus.

Another lockdown begins at 9pm on April 24 and expires at 5am on April 27.

People who breach the lockdown and curfew measures could face prison terms up to 18 months and fines of $10,000.

As of April 24, there were 73 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country.

Man jailed for stealing from his stepmother

Lisa Brown
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0
Man jailed for stealing from his stepmother

Nassau, BAHAMAS-A man who broke into his stepmother’s service station during the five-day coronavirus lockdown has been jailed.

Wayde Mackey, 27, pleaded guilty to shop breaking and stealing at his arraignment before Magistrate Samuel Mckinney.

The magistrate sentenced him to 18 months in prison for shop breaking. Mackey, 27, will spend an additional six months in jail if he doesn’t compensate Letisha Mackey $135 for the stolen items.

Ms. Mackey discovered the break-in at W and W Service Station in Greencastle, Eleuthera on April 15.

The thief entered the establishment between April 9 and April 14 and stole drinks and snacks.

Ms. Mackey told police that she suspected her stepson was responsible.

He admitted to the offense when questioned by police.

Mackey told McKinney that he didn’t have a lawyer during the arraignment.

However, Attorney Devard Francis showed up 15 minutes after the magistrate dealt with the matter.

Francis said that Mr. Mackey’s father owned the service station and wanted to drop the case.

However, the magistrate could not revisit the matter since it was already completed.

In any event, the prosecutor pointed out that the father had no standing in the case because he didn’t make the complaint to police.

 

 

Hurricane evacuee denies flashing girls at shelter

Lisa Brown
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0
Hurricane evacuee denies flashing girls at shelter

Nassau, BAHAMAS- A man left homeless by Hurricane Dorian has denied exposing himself to two teenage girls at a shelter for victims of the monster storm.

Prosecutors allege that Levardo Cornish, 30, flashed the girls, ages 12 and 13, at the Poinciana Inn in New Providence on April 19.

Cornish, who is originally from Murphy Town, Abaco, denied two counts of indecent exposure at his arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

Cornish told the court that the charges resulted from a misunderstanding.

He told the court, “I was in the private setting of my assigned residence. There is a glass door. I was about to go in the tub and the children had their backs turned to me. [They were] listening to music.

“And, for some reason, curiosity got the best of them and they looked back into my room.”

Asked if he lived with the children, Cornish said, “I’m one of the victims from Hurricane Dorian and we’re staying at the shelter. Their room is right next door and they were on the balcony.

“I was inside my room getting ready to bathe in the privacy of my own room. It’s a mix up.”

Cornish said that he didn’t mess with children, as he had three of his own by three different women.

He eventually said that he was “not guilty.”

The magistrate released Cornish on $500 self-signed bail and set his trial for July 2. As a condition of his release, Cornish must have no contact with the alleged victims.

Hurricane Dorian, one of the most destructive storms in history, wiped out thousands of homes and businesses in September 2019.

 

 

PM’s ‘nephew’ fined for ignoring lockdown

Lisa Brown
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PM’s ‘nephew’ fined for ignoring lockdown

Nassau, BAHAMAS-Name dropping didn’t help a man who left home during the lockdown imposed to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

Ramond Minnis had to pay a $350 fine to avoid spending three months in prison, despite claims that Prime Minister Hubert Minnis is his uncle.

Police arrested Ramond Minnis at Ross Corner around 9pm on April 18.

Minnis pleaded guilty to violation of lockdown at his arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

He told the magistrate that he was headed to a shop when police stopped him.

The lockdown that came into effect at 9pm on April 17 and ended at 5am on April 20 ordered the closure of all stores.

The lockdown restricted residents to their homes unless they worked in essential services or had a medical emergency.

The magistrate asked Minnis if he knew that the country was locked down on orders of the prime minister.

Minnis replied, “That’s my uncle. Minnis who owns the gas station is my grandfather.”

Violating the lockdown could attract prison sentences up to 18 months and fines up to $10,000.

Another lockdown comes into effect at 9pm on April 24 and ends at 5am on April 27.

As of April 22, there were 70 confirmed local cases of coronavirus, with nine deaths.

 

 

 

Mother jailed for gun threat

Lisa Brown
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0
Mother jailed for gun threat

Nassau, BAHAMAS- A mother of four who threatened to kill her rival while pointing a gun at her head has been jailed.

Ricarro Lavette Russell, 32, faced charges of assault with a deadly weapon and threats of death when she appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney for arraignment.

Prosecutors said Russell made the gun threat to Aaleeaha Baker as she took a shortcut through Balls Alley on April 20.

Police arrested Russell a short time later and she admitted the crimes, the court heard.

Defense lawyer Ian Cargill asked the magistrate not to send the single mother to prison. Her children range in age from two to 15.

Instead, Cargill suggested a bound over, probation and community service.

Cargill acknowledged that Russel had an argument with Baker, but he did not say what caused the row.

However, he added, “The whole story has not been told.”

According to Cargill, Russell was in her yard when the incident happened.

Cargill said police arrested Russell within hours of Baker’s complaint, but they did not recover the weapon.

In arriving at his sentence of one year in prison, McKinney considered Russell’s early guilty plea, her clean criminal record and the age of her youngest child.

McKinney advised Russell of her right to appeal the sentence.

 

Ex-con avoids jail for threats to guard

Lisa Brown
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0
Ex-con avoids jail for threats to guard

Nassau, BAHAMAS- An ex-convict was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to threatening to kill a corrections officer during the coronavirus lockdown.

Anthony Forbes, 23, threatened to shoot Leslie Edgecombe in the head when he ran into him at a gas station on April 18.

Police manhandled Forbes when he resisted arrest. As a result, he sustained a broken shoulder.

Forbes pleaded guilty to charges of threats of death, disorderly behavior, resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and violation of lockdown at his arraignment before Magistrate Samuel McKinney.

Edgecombe was at Porky’s Gas Station when he saw Forbes, who served nine months in prison for arson.

He told the magistrate that he just come out of prison two weeks ago.

While serving his time, Forbes alleged that Edgecombe and other officers beat him. As a result of the beating, Forbes received 12 stitches in his head, the court heard.

Forbes alleged that Edgecombe and the other officers were charged and placed on half-pay.

According to Forbes, he was walking to a shop when Edgecombe pulled up in a Jeep and said, “See how easy it is to blow y’all head off.”

Forbes said he told Edgecombe, “I could do the same thing to you.”

Forbes complained that police did not take him back to the hospital for the followup appointment for his shoulder. He also alleged that the officers at the police station refused him visitors and his medication.

Magistrate McKinney told Forbes he could go to prison for one year if he breaches probation.

McKinney fined him $400 or four months in prison for violating the lockdown. He has until April 24 to pay the fine.

 

 

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