Vishal Jones, an ex-convict who admitted to stealing a pressure washer, became the second person referred to the drug treatment court yesterday.
Jones, 29, who a court heard was behind bars for three years for simple larceny, was yesterday read a similar charge by Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
The charge against Jones stated that on November 17th, at First Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, he stole a pressure washer, valued $160,000, which was the property of Munir Yamin.
After the unrepresented man pleaded guilty to the charge, the court prosecutor presented the police’s information on the charge. He said on the day in question, Yamin secured his pressure washer in his yard and left. Upon returning around 8 pm, he noticed the equipment was missing. He immediately made a report at the Ruimveldt Police Station.
With help of video footage, the police were able to do a thorough investigation and later arrested Jones. When Jones was told of the allegation, he gave an oral confession to the police. He also helped them contact the person he had sold the pressure washer to and it was later recovered.
After the prosecutor was done, Jones agreed to what was said, however when he was asked why he did the crime, he would not say. Jones was sent to speak with a probation officer, who later informed the court that Jones sold the pressure washer for $4,500 to buy food and essentials. The court also heard that the man’s cousin told the probation officer that his family refuses to help and support him because he has made stealing and serving time in prison a lifestyle. The cousin also told the probation officer that Jones uses drugs.
Jones told the magistrate that he has been using drugs for four years and mentioned that he had completed his three-year sentence for a similar offence, last year. He also indicated to the court that he would join a rehabilitation programme if the court offers it or gives him information on how to go about joining a programme.
Magistrate Isaacs-Marcus then referred the man to the Drug Treatment Court, while noting that she hoped he would qualify for admission to a treatment programme. However, if he does not qualify or does not successfully complete the programme, he will once again be sent before a magistrate to be sentenced for the current charge.
The magistrate was also given a brief report on the progress of the first candidate who was referred to the court. She had referred Earl DeSouza to the court last week after he had been charged with having 10 grammes of marijuana in his possession. He had later told her that he smokes a joint every week. This led her to refer DeSouza to the Drug Treatment Court. Yesterday she was told that he has since gotten the support of his family and is progressing well with the help of a programme.
