Magistrate Pearl Williams fined Omowali Warner of Upper Kings Hill who resides in Newtown $1,500.00 after he pleaded guilty to possession of five (5) grams of Cocaine.
According to the facts as presented in court by police prosecuting corporal Dale LeBlanc, on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at about 11:30 am, police officers of the Anti Crime Task Force and Drug Squad on vehicle GA613 were on mobile patrol in the Newtown community and on arrival in the vicinity of Rubens Bakery, they noticed an individual walking away which raised some suspicion.
The vehicle was brought to a stop and the individual was approached and told that he appeared “suspicious and wanted to conduct a search on him.”
While conducting the search, police found one orange translucent plastic medical bottle with a white cover containing several foil wrappings in the defendant’s groin area. Asked for an explanation he replied, “Officer a little thing I have there.” Questioned further he stated, “Officer, to be honest with you, I just lose my job, some crack I have there for me to sell to see if I make money.”
He was informed that it was an offense to be in possession of a controlled drug namely “crack cocaine.” He was arrested and taken to Police Headquarters for processing. On arrival at Police Headquarters, the said prescription container was opened and the foil wrappings were counted in his presence and amounted to 27 pieces. The wrappings were weighed and amounted to 5 grams.
In court, Warner pleaded guilty and his lawyer Wayne Norde mitigated on his behalf begging the court not to impose a custodial sentence on his client who “has fully cooperated with the police and also pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity.”
Warner he told the court was “very remorseful for his actions and was frustrated since he had lost his job.”
Before sentencing him, Magistrate Williams told him that she will “not impose a custodial sentence on him” but losing his job was “no excuse for him to be selling cocaine.”
She stated that she had taken into account his guilty plea and although he has a past record of drugs, she will not take that into consideration since he had “fully cooperated with the police and the amount was small.”
He was fined $1,500.00 to be paid in three installments of $500.00 starting November 30, 2022, with the second December 31, 2022, and the final $500.00 to be paid no later than January 31, 2023, in default four months in jail.