A mother was set free and her son jailed after they made a court appearance yesterday following the discovery of over 600 grammes of cannabis at their Hibiscus Housing Scheme residence.
Sixty-nine-year-old Minelva Devonshire and her son Telbert Devonshire were jointly charged with the possession of 115 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. They allegedly had the illegal drug on June 9 at Hibiscus Housing Scheme, Blankenburg.
It was further alleged that on the same day, Telbert Devonshire had in his possession an additional 524 grammes of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. He pleaded guilty to both charges, while his mother entered a not guilty plea for the single charge against her.
According to the particulars of the case, ranks attached to the narcotics branch of the police force visited the West Coast Demerara residence of the accused after receiving information. It was related that upon seeing the ranks, the number two accused jumped out of the window and ran to the back of the yard where he proceeded to jump the fence.
It further alleged that the man was seen throwing a black plastic bag over the trench which resulted in a chase and ended with the suspect being apprehended on a dam near the trench. The parcel was reportedly also recovered.
Devonshire was then taken back to his house and it was there the ranks allegedly caught his mother trying to stuff a black plastic bag into a mattress.
A search of the mattress unearthed 101 small Ziploc bags allegedly containing cannabis. As a result, the woman was also arrested
Additionally, the facts stated that while under caution from the ranks, the man took ownership of the drugs saying that he was the one selling drugs and not his mother.
An investigation was then conducted which resulted in the duo being charged with the offences.
In mitigation on behalf of Telbert Devonshire, attorney Charles Ramson Jnr asked the magistrate to take into consideration that his client had no previous convictions nor did he waste the court’s time as well as the fact that he is the sole bread winner of his family.
In the end, the man was ordered to pay a $30,000 fine and serve a three-year prison sentence.
Furthermore, in light of the sentence handed down to the man, the prosecution indicated that they would not be offering evidence against Minelva Devonshire based on advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DDP). Hence the drug possession charge against the woman was withdrawn and she left the court a free woman.
In a separate hearing, Isaiah Marques who was also charged with the possession of cannabis will be spending the next six months doing community service after he pleaded guilty to having 1.5 grammes of cannabis in his possession. In addition to surrendering his Saturdays to do community service, the 20-year-old was also fined $2,000.