By FARRAH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
fjohnson@tribunemedia.net
A 29-YEAR-OLD man who was found with over five ounces of marijuana must attend four months of drug counselling to avoid spending three months in prison.
Police arrested Cordero Meadows after they found $725 worth of Indian hemp in his car on March 12.
He pleaded guilty to one count of simple possession when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt yesterday.
The court heard that morning, officers on mobile patrol in the Fox Hill area stopped a Nissan Cube in reference to a traffic violation. When they approached the vehicle to speak with the occupants, officers smelled marijuana emanating from the car. As a result, they informed Meadows of their search and began their investigation. The prosecution said a brown bag which contained ten small clear packages of marijuana was found on the floor of the backseat. Meadows was subsequently arrested and cautioned. When he was questioned in police custody, he admitted the offence and said he bought the drugs for his personal use.
During the hearing, Meadows’ attorney, Keevon Maynard, noted that his client had chosen not to waste the court’s time by admitting his guilt from the onset of the investigation. He also noted that Meadows was the primary caretaker of his two daughters and stated that he was formally employed in the hotel industry before he was furloughed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After listening to his plea in mitigation, Magistrate Ferguson-Pratt granted Meadows a conditional discharge on the agreement he would attend drug counselling classes for four months. She warned him if he failed to comply with the conditions of his release, he would be sentenced to three months behind bars.
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