By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 32-year-old man who denied using fraudulent insurance cheques to defraud three businesses will appear before a magistrate next year to determine whether he will be granted bail before his trial.
Another man accused of similar offences was yesterday granted $3,500 bail before his hearing.
In the first incident, Brent McPhee appeared before Magistrate Samuel McKinney after he was accused of using fake JS Johnson cheques to defraud three hardware stores of over $16,000 worth of supplies between November and December.
Yesterday, he was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud, five counts of possession of a forged document, five counts of uttering a forged document and five counts of fraud by false pretences.
The prosecution alleged that McPhee used a fake cheque from the insurance company to purchase $4,032 worth of painting supplies from the Paint Place on December 1.
They further alleged he used a $5,964.56 JS Johnson cheque to purchase building supplies from City Lumber on November 20.
McPhee is also accused of using another forged cheque from the insurance company in the amount of $2,003.96 to purchase a ductless unit from AC Depot on November 18.
During his arraignment, McPhee denied all of the allegations. However, before Magistrate McKinney could consider the issue of bail, the prosecution said the Office of the Attorney General feared the accused would interfere with Crown witnesses and potentially put them in fear if he were to be released. The prosecution also urged the court to consider McPhee’s antecedents which consisted of crimes of a similar nature.
McPhee’s attorney, Tonique Lewis, assured the magistrate that her client would return to court on his trial date if he were released. She also argued that mechanisms could be put in place for officials to monitor the accused’s whereabouts to ensure he did nothing to interfere with the proceedings.
After listening to arguments from both sides, Magistrate McKinney adjourned the matter to January 4 for a bail hearing.
McPhee was remanded into custody until that time.
Yesterday, Henry Cartwright also appeared before Magistrate McKinney for fraud related offences.
The 31-year-old was accused of using a fake JS Johnson cheque, which he made payable to AC Depot, to buy a $2,395.99 ductless unit on November 18.
He denied one count each of possession of a forged document, uttering a forged document and fraud by false pretences and the case was adjourned to January 26, 2021 for trial.
Cartwright was granted $3,500 bail.
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