Three men on Monday earned lenient sentences after saving the court time and pleading guilty to charges of attempted robbery and robbery.
Marcellus Marks, 39, also known as ‘Charles Smith,’ Junior McFarlane, 40, and Wayne Gibson, 42, were sentenced by Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Marks was on an attempted robbery charge.
When the magistrate attempted to read his charge, he interrupted, proclaiming, “I don’t steal. I does do any lil fine thing fi mek money.” He added, “I does wash vehicle pun Leopold Street.”
Prosecutor Tracymay Gittens said Marks was caught on September 30, at Junge Liu’s Robb Street home, trying to break into his car. He was caught in the act by occupants of the residence. He was apprehended and handed over to the police.
When the magistrate asked him if he was innocent, Marks said, “I very innocent.” The man vehemently denied that he stole anything from Liu and he asked Magistrate Bess to give him a “small sentence.” The magistrate told him he could not sentence a person unless they are guilty.
The magistrate then asked Marks if he was guilty but he maintained his innocence. The magistrate told Marks his sentence will be reduced if he pleads guilty, but the man was adamant that he was innocent.
Magistrate Bess placed Marks on $20,000 bail. Marks then began pleading, saying the money was out of his reach.
“Ma worship, if I plead guilty, how much time I gon get?” Marks later asked.
Magistrate Bess told him he could not disclose that until he pleaded guilty. The man hesitated to plead guilty but the magistrate reminded him his sentenced will be reduced. “I guilty, man,” he finally said.
The magistrate asked him if he was sure. “Yeah, I guilty,” he replied.
He was then sentenced to three months in prison. The court then warned Marks if he was to commit the crime again, his punishment would be more severe. The man shook his head and said, “Ok. Thanks, ma worship.”
Meanwhile, McFarlane was charged with robbing taxi driver Bhagatran Mohabir of a $20,000 Motorola cellular phone on September 2. The phone was not recovered.
Prosecutor Gittens said Mohabir stopped his taxi and came out to make change for a passenger, when McFarlane approached and stole his cellular phone.
McFarlane said he lives at Cross Street with his mother and could not afford to pay bail. He pleaded guilty and said, “Gimme a small time na.”
The man said he has a small child that he has to look after in Cayenne, French Guiana. He also told the court he was never convicted before.
Magistrate Bess then sentenced McFarlane to three months in prison and said he considered the fact that McFarlane did not waste the court’s time and he was never convicted before.
Gibson was charged with robbing Lionel Seenarine of his two rearview mirrors, valued at $20,000 each, on October 2 at Princes Street.
Prosecutor Gittens said the car was parked and Gibson was caught red handed by Seenarine. Gibson then jumped in a nearby trench but did not get far.
The items were recovered and he was subsequently charged. The man pleaded guilty and begged the magistrate for leniency. “I got a ten-year-old son fah mind. I never thief nothing before,” He said.
The magistrate then passed down a six-month sentence on Gibson, who was relieved when he heard the verdict. When leaving the courtroom, he said, “Yes sir, thank you God. Give respect!”
