A man who begged for a prison sentence despite denying larceny allegations against him, was yesterday granted his wish and sentenced to six months in jail.
The charge against Jermaine Johnson alleged that on February 17, at Brickdam, Georgetown, he broke and entered the shop of Ashonda Austin and stole a quantity of beverages and confectionary valued $17,860.
Facts presented by Prosecutor Blackman stated that on the said date, Johnson was found drinking a beverage in the shop by a security guard. The guard, who became suspicious, decided to search the shop and discovered that the door had been pried open. The guard raised an alarm and Johnson was later arrested.
Johnson pleaded guilty to the charge and explained to the court room that he has no fixed place of abode and that he usually sleeps at the shop, which he guards for Austin. However, he claimed that on the said date, he returned to find the shop open.
He said when Austin made an appearance, he tried to explain to her that he found the shop open but she refused to believe him and told him he would have to be charged.
Magistrate Faith McGusty then told Johnson that she would be forced to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf because he was denying the allegation.
Johnson, however, told the magistrate that it doesn’t matter, he still has to go to jail and he has no place to live so he doesn’t mind. “I want to take responsibility for the crime”, he told the magistrate.
He was then asked again if what the prosecutor said was true, to which he replied yes and was subsequently sentenced to six months in jail.
