Nassau, BAHAMAS- Three women arrested after prison authorities foiled an attempt to smuggle marijuana to an inmate have received a conditional discharge.
Police on January 18 detained Doris Bethel, 31, Joan Johnson, 34, and Charmaine Higgs, 45, after officials found a ¼ pound of marijuana, a cellphone and a wifi box hidden in the soles of a pair of tennis shoes.
According to the prosecution’s case, Bethel asked Johnson to take the shoes to the prison for an inmate in maximum security.
However, Johnson was denied entry on the prison compound because she was improperly dressed. As a result, she asked Higgs, who was bringing clothing for another inmate, to take the bag inside for her.
Prison authorities detained the Good Samaritan after an X-Ray showed the secret stash. The bag of marijuana was in one shoe, and the cellphone and wifi box were in the other.
The officers went outside the compound and arrested Johnson.
Later that day, police arrested Bethel at work. According to her, she got the shoes from the inmate’s cousin.
The women pleaded guilty to drug possession at their arraignment before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt on January 21.
However, they denied taking prohibited items in a correctional facility in respect of the phone and wifi box.
The magistrate granted the women a conditional discharge in respect of the drug charge. She ordered them to perform 40 hours of community service and to be of good behavior for four months.
Failure to abide by either condition will result in two months’ imprisonment.
The women will return to court for the second charge on May 20.
