A Roseau man, who claimed to have stolen a quantity of cheese at a local supermarket to take care of his seven-year-old daughter, was sentenced to six months at hard labor suspended for one year when he appeared in court earlier this week.
Donavan Joseph, 59, pleaded guilty to stealing six one-kilogram tins of cheese each valued at $61.35 from Astaphan Supermarket in Roseau.
“I am sorry for what I did … I have a little child taking care of,” Joseph told the court.
Court reports indicate that at about 11:15 am on July 5, Joseph entered the supermarket with three of the company’s plastic bags in his pocket.
He then went to the dairy section where he took the cheese and placed them in the bags.
He then proceeded to walk out, however he was stopped by the security guard.
When asked what the bags contained, Joseph panicked, dropped them close to the door and ran outside.
He was however caught in the company’s parking lot.
In his presence the bags were opened and the cheese found.
He admitted he was unable to pay for the items.
“I go by Astaphans, I take the cheese and put them in a plastic bag then I go by the cashier with it and the security stopped me,” he said in court.
“Don’t you think it’s a good idea to retire from stealing?” magistrate, Bernard Pacquette, told the accused man.
Joseph then told the magistrate that he stole the cheese in order to sell to provide for his seven-year-old daughter.
He last appeared in court on December 2, 2011 for theft and was fined $200.
This isn’t good bye bye joesph r bye bye have fun in jail
I cannot believe dominicans so u all believe someone should just walk in a store and take whatever they want and the store owner the police the judge no one should hold him accountable, the man never say he didn’t have a job, and the people that making excuses for him wait till he comes and break into your home, and read carefully this man is a habitual thief, he was in court not long for stealing and u all that feel he should not pay for what he did when u go to the store and the price of every thing going up remember we all pay the cost for what is stolen from the store they pass the cost to all of us by raising the price, of their goods so if u think the judge is too hard on him I am letting u know he is not hurting the store owner he is hurting u and me.
Ummm…suspended sentence for one (1) year…he will not get jail time unless he commits another crime within the year, OK?
He is “free” to go about his business. aye, aye, aye man!
Labor ka twhavhi……
Well he got away with his so he can have mercy on others
I’m not an. Ex cop but I do want to capture him
And lock him up for life for cheese theft
There is something blowing in the air and it is called madness. He must have got the impression from the Animal Show that Astaphan is an extension of the Red Clinic.
It’s filthy djsgusting people steal cheese and wind up in jail
Bad cheese lands guy in jail
Rapist running around free in DA,But one dude steal cheese and he may go to jail.That Dominica is so upside down it’s not funny.Lord help the innocents.
Lately all those voleur excuse is for the children and all you believe that? That is just for sympathy
Cheese is stolen every day why
Whilst all crime is wrong, its really amazing to see that petty theft and shop lifting are dealt with swiftly and severely, in the meanwhile those in HIGH OFFICE who misappropriate millions in state funds get away scot-free. In the meanwhile the spin doctors fabricate excuses to justify these atrocities.
What a 59 yr old man doing with a 7 yr old child. Shame on the Mother.
Why do you say shame on God’s work? Would you have had an abortion? Is the female a kid or a big woman? I suppose you can’t answer that, so shut the hell up.
Are you aware if they are virile, they could have children at 100 years?
So u guys r telling me he can’t find a job. I’m nit trying to be ignorant but I’d it that hard
Stealing cheese a suspended sentence or hard labour in this case they should of made him clean the shelves and floors in the shop having him arrested etc what a waste of time. In Dominica you can deal in drugs , murder someone and nothing happens no court date , no sentencing nothing but the system is very good at loosing evidence
@Anonymous I have echoed your sentiments over and over again. Why do murderers, rapists, etc get no punishment while those involved in petty theft are jailed? He should be sent to clean some of our gutters that are the breeding ground for the Chikungunya or something similar.
HOW LONG?
NOT LONG!
That is so not cool ok he stole the cheese I am not saying that he is right but six months hard labor where there are others who does worst than that and get away scot free that is not cool at all.
by suspended sentence you mean hang by the neck right..heh ehe
You had me LOL, that’s funny, you mean he should be suspended in the air
He should have been given community work.
No person should be jailed for food.. Supermarkets throw out so much food instead of donating them to the less fortunate before it expires. The court system is all about money and No care.. Why didn’t the magistrate offer to pay for the cheese with their ridiculous salaries for judging innocent people? The real criminals are those in the justice n law system.. Investigate them all. This is bull and discrimination.
You are justifying stealing with this comment. So people should be allowed to walk into a grocery and take whatever they please without paying? What planet are you living on?
stealing is never innocent. If the magistrate allow everyone to steal because they are poor, shops and supermarkets will be empty. Stealing is a crime. As a society we have rules to follow.
This is not an intelligent idea. Do you not think that to pay for it would be encouraging them? They would steal again and expect the items to be paid for. Then they would not pay for their crime.
Omg find a job
where he getting it.. Are u going to give him a job Texan?
He should be asked when last he worked and did he ever try to seek employment.
Get one for him
Tell him where.
Where is it?
no job on the island
Yet every foreigner who comes here (particularly Haitians) is gainfully employed….. many even self employed?
What does this say about the individuals who live here? hmmmm…….. think about it…. Lazy maybe, lack innovation, education, skill????????
so wen d man in jail doing hard labour who is going n take care of his child:
just let d man pay ..
he already admit of his wrong doings.
smh
Did you notice the next line which says “suspended for one year”? Please read thoroughly before posting such comments.
Did you notice the next line which says “suspended for one year”? Meaning there is no jail time on this one unless within the year he commits another offence. Please read thoroughly before posting such comments.
Where is the child’s mother? Do you know if he lied to the magistrate about having a 7-year old child?
He is a dangerous criminal
It’s hard to say at once
***WHAT EXACTLY IS STEALING*****
“He then proceeded to walk out, however he was stopped by the security guard”.
“When asked what the bags contained, Joseph panicked, dropped them close to the door and ran outside”.
………………………………………………..
So he never really left the supermarket? He was stopped by the security guard from getting out? If this is the case then was this really stealing or…………………………… “an attempt to steal”.
Besides if the story about his daughter is true then sending him to prison is not a good idea. He can better be of value to his daughter “out of prison” and still doing hard labour working for the state in some capacity to be determined.
I am not condoning his act………………… BUT…..
It’s time we have a more realistic and proactive and productive sentencing system for the good of all.
Just my opinion & something to ponder on
-Thanks
So now he can turn around and sue them because in truth and in fact, he never stole the cheese.
He did what he did with good intentions but it doesnt make it right. I think 6 months is a lot for stealing cheese but I guess stealing is stealing. Hopefully there are people to take care of his daughter while he goes away.
lmfao…..i think retiring age 65
Joseph what about passing around goodwill and ask people to clean and scrub their backyard…for a fee
They would have to watch him as a cat watches a mouse. Who could trust a thief and one who is not rehabilitated?
I have mixed feelings on this wrong. I strongly believe wrong is wrong and u should be punished but if he telling the truth about his daughter, I feel so bad for him. I pray God provides for the child.
Blame Skerrit. Everything blame skerrit. he used a remote control to contro,l your hands to steal d cheese. SMH.
@Rasta So because he is not the Outgoing Skerrit, he should not be blamed?
Well i have news for you. I BLAME HIM FULL TIME for misusing the state’s resources. He is inept, clueless, dunce and incapable.
I HOPE THIS SATISFIES YOU!
so u think that when a another government come it going to changed..think again my bro
What the man did is wrong but sending him to do hard labor was so stupid paying back the supermarket was the correct thing , So many different topics that need legal attention and is just sitting there what ever happen to Mr. Emmanuel and his wife who was fire bump at their home that’s very urgent matter Lawyers and magistrates should stop the pussy footing and stop punishing the less fortunate .
Read and understand before you comment. 6 months hard labor suspended for one year
The sentence was “suspended for 1 year”. What that means is: if he were to commit another crime within that year, he would be required to serve the time. In the meantime, he is free to go his merry way (hopefully not to commit more crime).
How will he learn a lesson and change?
DNO where u get that picture lmao , and the story that goes with it even funnier, the Magistrate asked the 59 year old when is he going to retire from stealing?? I guess at 60 so he can collect his pension LMAO!!!!!!
that was funny
NOT AT 60 BUT 65.u forget de retirement age went up?
Bad habits are difficult to break. Some of them never stop stealing until they die and also in prison.