By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net
A GRAND Bahama parent who attacked the Principal of Jack Hayward High School was sentenced to one year at Her Majesty’s Prison yesterday.
According to police, Latoya Denise Williams, 34, was arraigned before Magistrate Debbye Ferguson where she pleaded guilty to four charges, including causing harm, disorderly behaviour, resisting arrest and causing damage. The sentence was handed down in Court one.
Six months in prison was the result of the causing harm charge with a month for resisting arrest to run concurrently.
Williams was also fined $25 for disorderly behaviour and $684 in compensation to Principal Yvonne Ward, including $200 punitive damages. Williams was ordered to pay the fines by 3:30 pm yesterday, but she was unable to. That resulted in an additional six months at Her Majesty’s Prison.
The school’s principal complained to authorities on Tuesday about the incident that resulted in her being briefly hospitalised.
Reports coming out of Grand Bahama said the principal got into an argument with the mother in her office, which resulted in her being slapped and then attacked by an angry Williams.
Officials in Nassau later confirmed that the incident took place shortly after noon.
At the time, Belinda Wilson, Bahamas Union of Teachers president, questioned where the authorities or security guards were when the incident took place and how they could have allowed the attack.
Ms Wilson called the situation a disgrace.
“We know she has filed a complaint and we are 100 per cent in support of her and we hope and will see to it that that parent is prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” she said.
Defending the security at Jack Hayward High, officials said when the parent came onto the campus she was calm and security had no idea of what she intended to do.
Comments
4renbahamian 10 years, 7 months ago
That is the quickest trial and sentencing ever in the Bahamas. The other courts need to follow.
john33xyz 10 years, 7 months ago
4ren - I guess the difference is that there wasn't trial since the person pleaded guilty during the initial hearing.
When someone pleads not-guilty then they are put in remand to await a "court date" which is kind of like awaiting a date with Paris HIlton - you'll be waiting a while.
However, even so - it does seem a little STRANGE that from noon-Tuesday until now, she was arrested, brought to hearing, convicted, sentenced, and transferred to prison.
Lots of times sentencing is done at a separate appearance in court, which would have then needed a court date.
I guess it's just bad luck for her too that the stenographers decided to come to work on Thursday so she could be sentenced. Those people are usually on the missing list quite often.
Finally, I would say that the sentence IS WAY TOO HARSH. This is just one MORE example of why our prisons are full of people that don't belong there - and we don't have room for real criminals. In addition to the fines, 6 months (the initial decision by the way) would have been more correct.
NOTE that the article says that because she couldn't pay the fines BY 3:30 PM THE SAME DAY (Let me say that again - THE SAME DAY) she incurred an additional six months in prison.
The newspapers should make a FRONT PAGE headline about this: something like,
"Not having immediate access to $909.00 adds six months to PRISON term"
Perhaps this should be made a part of the Road Traffic Act. When you come to get your car licensed or drivers license renewed you must also bring a letter from the bank stating that your average balance in your account over the past year has been $1000 or higher. It could also be a requirement for passport renewal, and other important documents / registration.
If this is a reality of the courts, then people need to be taught the lesson - there is a penalty for being poor.
Of course I am joking on that point. I feel that the 2nd part of the sentence is simply unfair. But who am I ? Just a normal "citizen" whose opinion don't matter diddly. .
whit4120 10 years, 7 months ago
Remember that it's these same type of parental behavior that creates criminals!
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 7 months ago
Yes the newspaper should start with a statement that keeping cool heads and acting like a real adult will keep you out of prison and save you 1000 dollars. Good for Judge Ferguson, these parents seem to have developed attitudes that they can do anything without consequence. She will think before she tries it again.
4renbahamian 10 years, 7 months ago
In way it send a strong message befor other parents think they will only get a slap on the wrist. It also shows if you go to school you will learn something.
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 7 months ago
Amen and you're never too old or too big to learn!
javiebenz 10 years, 7 months ago
That's what her stubid azz get, now her & all the other stupid azz parents who believe they could run up in schools & slapp dwn teachers & principals would think twice then again before doing so...NO REMORSE...2 ta 1 her rude azz kid did something wrong & here she go encouraging it, then the society want to blame the police for the crime rate...smft
concernedcitizen 10 years, 7 months ago
As a child this womens mother probably lost her temper and in anger struck her in the face . This lady then learned this is an acceptable way of conflict resolution and passed it on to her child . That is now three generation that use physical violence as conflict resolution ,all under the guise of "spare the rod". I am not against discipline but we have changed it to anger and violence .
ThisIsOurs 10 years, 7 months ago
So true...I saw this beautiful little girl in a store this afternoon...she seemed quite mannerly while she was in the store...she must have asked her mother a question, I didn't hear what the question was I wasn't really paying attention but I spun around when I heard the mother shout out "You stupid eh!" My first thought was exactly your point here, how will that little girl treat her daughter when she grows up, how will she treat other people? Parenting is hard...we have a generation of verbally, mentally and sometimes physically abused young people who know no other way to interact with others
TalRussell 10 years, 7 months ago
Do the courts really think it's smart to turn financially-strapped Bahamalanders into instant street corner panhandlers? It makes no sense whatsoever when the judicial system over the years continues to address poverty, by turning it into some form of criminality, punishable by jail sentences. Judges have jailed thousands of Bahamalander's, all because they're unable to pay their court fines and court orders. I will keep on reminding my Comrades, that I would not be at all surprised, if some 60% of all those incarcerated up at her majesty's prison "pose no threat to the public. How in the world can you even begin to think it's OK to allow such a relic judicial system to restart sentencing your fellow Bahamalander's, to death?
john33xyz 10 years, 7 months ago
Perhaps people just know in their subconscious (without every really thinking about it) that the high murder rate, the high rate of heart attacks due to unhealthy foods, the manufacture of even more murderers by the prison, the lack of availability of medicines in the hospital and clinics, and so on and so on - all help to maintain a high death rate which is needed to balance the high birth rate.
If it weren't for that, the country's population would explode almost overnight. People would have nowhere to live, and there would be no way to even walk inside the mall or food stores because of the dense thick mobs of people. In this way, by accepting the high death rate (quietly and without voicing it), they are able to stand up and claim a high moral ground by always defending the Law against abortion. We can't practice safe sex, we can't have abortions (legally), so the only thing left is a high death rate. Nature takes care of itself, whether we agree or whether we like it, or whether we even believe it. We are free to continue in ignorance, because nature is infinitely wise.
sotiredoftal 10 years, 7 months ago
I wish the courts would use this same hastiness of trial and of course no bail for the murderers, rapists and robbers that are out on the street...
tigguh19 10 years, 7 months ago
Regardless what your child or children do, it shouldn't give you the rights to put your hands on an Administrator. Some of these Kids are really getting out of hand and needs to be deployed before its to late, Sometimes I don't feel sorry for them when my Dad or any other Judge send they hip to prison
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