Third time unlucky for drug dealer

A drug dealer was jailed for 18 months after a Magistrate failed to believe 37.84 grams of cannabis was for his personal use.

Robert Allen MacRonald, 33, of Pigeon Rock Lane, Pembroke, changed his plea to guilty in Magistrates' Court yesterday and admitted to possessing cannabis with intent to supply in Pembroke on September 9.

MacRonald also admitted to possessing drug equipment at the same place and time.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said at 7.45 a.m. that day Police armed with a search warrant acted on a tip and raided MacRonald's home where he said he had "seven ounces of weed".

Five clear, plastic twists and a film container containing green, plant-like material were found in a black leather pouch in a bedroom closet, Mr. Caines said.

A drug-sniffing dog detected cannabis in MacRonald's trouser pocket. A total of 37.84 grams of cannabis was seized ? with an estimated street value of $1,892, he said.

In addition, black scales, scissors, cigarette papers, seeds and a metal clip were seized. The scissors and clip tested positive for cannabis by a Government analysts, Mr. Caines said.

He said MacRonald had two previous cannabis possession charges in 1997 and 1998, for which he was fined $150 and $200 respectively.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner said a recently increased maximum penalty for possession with intent to supply was ten years in prison. MacRonald said he had a problem with cannabis and that he suffered from depression.

He said he kept the scales for making candles, but Mr. Warner did not believe him. "I have heard your explanation that the drugs found were for your personal use, however, I am not so satisfied," Mr. Warner said.

MacRonald was sentenced to 18 months for possession with intent to supply and three months for drug equipment ? both sentences to run concurrently from January 17. On Tuesday MacRonald was remanded after he pleaded not guilty to possession with intent to supply.

Lambert denies threatening woman

A tattooed-faced man was released on $2,000 bail after he denied threatening to shoot a woman.

Dennis Allen Lambert, 27, of Deepdale Road, Pembroke, pleaded not guilty of uttering threatening words at Parsons Road on June 9, 2005.

"Don't let me have to go get my gun and shoot you," Lambert allegedly told Char-Lee Simons that day.

Lambert also denied unlawfully assaulting Ms Simons causing her bodily harm at the same place and time as well as causing $60 damage to Ms Simons' car.

"This is foolishness," Lambert exclaimed in Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

But Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner warned the defendant to show respect in court or be remanded.

"If you don't behave yourself in this court I can send you over to the cells," Mr. Warner said. "If you can't behave yourself in here don't come!"

Lambert was supposed to appear in court for these charges on January 5, but he said he was taking care of his sick daughter.

He also said he went to Ms Simons' house the next day and gave her $150.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill was concerned that Ms Simons would be off the Island since she was a student. Lambert confirmed she was on the Island and claimed she had been "partying and everything" recently. "She is my daughter's godmother," he said. "We settled it outside of court."

Mr. Warner questioned why the case had taken so long to get to court, before setting a trial date of April 18 and giving him $2,000 bail with one surety.

Also dealt with were Lambert's impaired driving charges.

He pleaded not guilty to driving a cycle on Reid Street on November 27 when his ability was impaired by alcohol.

He also denied failing or refusing to take a breathalyser test at the same time. Lambert was supposed to be in court for the drunk driving charges on January 13, but said he could not make it because he was looking after his child.

Mr. Warner granted Lambert $1,000 bail with one surety to appear for trial on April 11.

Canadian carrying cannabis fined

A Canadian visitor left Bermuda $1,000 poorer after admitting to importing cannabis.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday, Jack Collier Cockburn, 54, of Lindsay, Ontario, pleaded guilty to importing 4.15 grams of cannabis when he arrived at Bermuda International Airport on January 5.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said Cockburn was escorted by Police into a search room shortly after his arrival.

"Okay, I might as well give it up," Cockburn said, as he pulled a plastic bag containing a green, plant-like material from his groin area. "It was a stupid thing to do."

Drivers fined, banned from roads

Two drivers were fined $1,000 and banned from driving all vehicles for one year.

In Magistrates' Court yesterday, Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner accused Colford Lloyd Ferguson, 24, of Spice Berry Lane, Warwick, of "coming to court when he felt like it" because he missed a court date on Tuesday. Eventually Ferguson pleaded guilty to driving a car in Paget on December 11, 2005 with 194 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams in 100 millilitres of blood.

Crown counsel Wayne Caines said Police saw Ferguson's car swerving into the opposite lane on South Shore Road.

Mr. Warner also ordered him to pay old fines immediately or face prison.

Justin Hassell, 21, of St. Anne's Road, Southampton, pleaded guilty of driving at Abbot's Cliff, Hamilton Parish, on Boxing Day with 90 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of his blood. Mr. Caines said Police were called to a two-vehicle collision when Hassell was discovered to have glazed eyes and breath that smelled like alcohol.