By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
A 45-year-old man who was found with more than two ounces of marijuana last week was yesterday ordered to pay $400 to avoid spending two months behind bars.
Police arrested Ricardo Wells after they discovered 2 and 7/8 ounces of Indian Hemp at his home on Sunday, January 16.
The court was told that on the date in question, officers armed with a search warrant, went to a home on Falcon Crest where they met Wells.
The prosecution said after Wells was shown the warrant, police conducted a search of the home and its surrounding property.
However, while searching, officers found a Ziploc bag containing suspected marijuana in the bushes near the home.
As a result, Wells was arrested and taken to the Drug Enforcement Unit where he admitted to the offence and claimed the drugs were for his personal use.
During his first appearance before Magistrate Samuel McKinney yesterday, the accused pleaded guilty to one count of possession of dangerous drugs.
His attorney begged the court for leniency, noting that her client — a computer programmer — was currently searching for employment.
She told the court that Wells had a “spotless” record and started using drugs after he was laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
She said he was extremely remorseful for his actions and deserved a second chance.
In response, Magistrate McKinney fined the defendant $400.
He was warned that failure to pay the fine would result in two months at the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services.
Also appearing before court on similar charges was 61-year-old Perry Feaster of south Bimini.
Feaster was arrested in New Providence after airport security officers found seven grams of marijuana in his luggage on January 12.
The Bimini resident pleaded guilty to drug possession during his arraignment yesterday.
After accepting his guilty plea, Magistrate McKinney granted him a conditional discharge.
The 61-year-old was told that if he failed to be of good behaviour for six months, he would be fined $400 or ordered to spend two months in prison.
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