A one-year sentence was yesterday handed down to a resident of Linden, who admitted to escaping from police custody.
Lester Johnson, 20, a mason, admitted that on August 24th, at the Wismar Police Station, while in lawful custody pending an investigation for breaking and entering and larceny, he escaped.
He, however, denied a charge that on August 21st, at Half Mile, Wismar, Linden, he broke and entered the home of Tia Niewenkirk and stole a $45,000 phone.
Prosecutor Simone Payne told the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that on August 22nd, Johnson was arrested for questioning in relation to breaking and entering and larceny, and placed into custody.
At about 6.30 am on August 24th, the court heard, he was taken out of the lock-up to bathe and was later seen running out of the station compound. The prosecutor noted that the police gave chase but was not able to capture the man.
Later, acting on information, the police went to the residence of Johnson’s mother, where they arrested him.
Asked if he wished to say anything in relation to the offence he pleaded guilty to, Johnson stated, “I don’t know anything ’bout duh girl phone. Me child mother get baby on August 31st and I didn’t want to leave me son unprotected.”
The prosecutor further noted that the accused was charged for a similar offence and given a two-year suspended sentence on April 30th, 2018, at the Wismar Magistrate’s Court.
According to Payne, the defendant would have committed the two other offences while serving the suspended sentence.
