Four Sandys residents pleaded not guilty to assaulting two women last year on October 18 and 19.

The four were in Magistrates' Court on Monday - Frederick Maybury, 29, Shaunita Simmons, 19, Troy Bremar, 36, and David Maybury, 18.

They are facing charges in the assaults of Tunisa Wale, 25, and Marketa Raynor, 22.

According to Police, Frederick Maybury allegedly beat up Ms Wale outside her home on Cambridge Road, Sandys, on October 18.

It is alleged that David Maybury and Simmons illegally entered Ms Wale's home the following day. At that time Simmons, Wellman and Bremar allegedly beat up Ms Wale's friend, Ms Raynor, resulting in injury.

Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner released the accused on $1,000 bail each. Another Sandys resident, Ashley Wellman, 25, may also be charged.

A trial date was set for July 8. The four are represented by lawyer Charles Richardson.

Homeless man avoids jail

Eugene (Jinx) Darrell narrowly avoided another stint in jail on Monday.

The homeless man pleaded guilty to begging in a public place, but was told by Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner that his next offence would result in a trip to Westgate Correctional Facility.

Police spotted Darrell, who claimed he "wanted something to eat", begging on Saturday on Front Street.

Mr. Warner reminded the 46 year old that there were places like the Salvation Army where he could get a free meal.

Visitor laments big mistake

Two American visitors appeared in the Magistrates' Court last week on charges of being in possession of controlled drugs.

Peter Amerigo Giacomine, 32, from Palmerton, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to being in possession of cannabis when he arrived at Bermuda International Airport on May 8.

Giacomine was stopped and searched at the Airport by Customs officials when he arrived on a commercial flight from New Jersey.

Crown counsel Anthony Blackman told the court that officers were searching Giacomine's luggage when they found a box of cigarettes tied with string to a pair of Speedo shorts.

He said when officers opened the box they discovered six cigarettes containing a black substance.

Mr. Blackman said Giacomine was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled drug. He said the cannabis was for his personal use.

Giacomine was taken into a secondary search area where Police discovered additional cannabis, which was sent to the Government analyst who found it to be a total of 6.88 grams.

A visibly shaken Giacomine apologised to the court adding that it was the biggest mistake of his life.

"I'm truly sorry," he told the court, adding that he would never get over being arrested on Mothers' Day.

"Today is also my girlfriends' birthday and I'm in court," he said.

Acting Senior Magistrate Tyrone Chin told Giacomine that it was a stupid thing to do.

Mr. Chin fined him $900 or three months' in prison. Giacomine agreed to pay the fine before leaving court.

Meanwhile, cruise ship passenger Daniel Lee Fincher, 24, an equipment operator from Virginia, pleaded guilty to being in possession of cocaine.

Mr. Blackman told the court that Fincher arrived in Bermuda on the Horizon on May 9.

He said during a routine search of the ship, Customs' officers with a K9 unit found 2.63 grams of cocaine in a plastic bag in the safe of Fincher's cabin.

Mr. Blackman said Fincher admitted to Police that the drugs were his and he was arrested.

"I made a big mistake and I apologise for breaking the law," Fincher said.

Mr. Chin fined him $900 or three months' in prison.

Fincher agreed to pay the fine before leaving court.

'This is your break'

Acting Magistrate Tyrone Chin gave a down and out man a break at Magistrates' Court last week.

Clyde Quinton Simons, 46, currently staying at Westgate, appeared in court because of an outstanding warrant for traffic offences.

Simons explained that he was picked up by Police regarding another matter shortly after he left Magistrates' Court earlier in the year.

On that occasion he pleaded guilty to driving an unlicensed motor bike, without a driver's licence and without third party insurance.

He received $1,350 worth of fines but could not pay them because he was in prison.

He also told Mr. Chin that he was having hip surgery soon which would require some recovery time and that he had already had surgery on his other hip.

Mr. Chin felt the man was "down on his luck" and decided to give him a three month and three week sentence for the traffic offences, which will run concurrent to time he is already serving for theft.

Before Simons left, Mr. Chin said he didn't want to see him in court again. "Don't give any excuses and don't say you never get a break because this is your break!"