Grand Bay resident Ijahman Baron and his girlfriend, Alisha Fontaine, appeared to have different opinions about the nature of an illegal drug found in their home which turned out to be marijuana.
But in the end Baron, who pleaded guilty to drug charges, was slapped with a hefty fine of $24,000 to be paid by March 31, 2013 or he will spend 20 months in jail.
According to court reports, the Police Drug Squad, armed with a search warrant, went to Baron’s home where they met his 19-year-old girlfriend. “Oh, they going down with us today,” she gasped when the police approached.
When the lawmen entered the house they saw what appeared to be a large quantity of bush or weed hanging on a line in the house. “Weed that there,” Baron exclaimed.
But his girlfriend contradicted him. “Bazalic that there,” she said.
An examination of the substance revealed that it was indeed marijuana and a further search discovered more of it in various parts of the house. Baron and Fontaine were then arrested. Fontaine pleaded not guilty and was to have been bailed with her trial date set for April 8, 2013 at Grand Bay.
Baron was fined $3,000.00 for possession of 4,179 grams of cannabis and $21,000.00 for possession with intent to supply.
In mitigation, Baron told Chief Magistrate Evelina Baptiste that he was a first time offender and sometimes did gardening.
“Don’t try to fool me … you have time to do rubbish, injuring yourself, the woman you are with and the community, taking and supplying drugs,” a very annoyed Baptiste told Baron. “You are unbelievable …. you spent all your time growing marijuana, you should not be in court, you should be working to better yourself, instead, you plying the drugs trade with a 19-year-old.”
In another matter, 48 year-old Hendricks Julius Wade of Morne Prosper could not get someone to bail him after he pleaded not guilty to a charge of threats and battery on his wife.
Another man 29 year Rennick Bastien of Newtown also pleaded not guilty to the charge of stealing at ACS 7-11 Mini Mart. He and Wade are now inmates at the State prison on remand pending the availability of a proper surety.
Shut up Wander and stay away from Grand Bay
Continue bleeding Grand Bay white because that’s how you all like it
he should be working, but working where? there is no work so what you expect from the people.you honor after you get your fat check you dont care how the fella has to feed himself. we all want to have a house and land and a vehicle like you your honor. but you well have your time and your own judgement. and to complete it gunman out on bail. no justice
lol laugh alone i can laugh look so people with foolish mind
They are aware how many people are arrested, charged and imprisoned for growing, possessing and trading in illegal drugs, yet they continue to take chances. Some people will never learn from the mistakes of others.
Where will he get $24,000 and more from to pay the Court? A sure prison awaits him. I hope he will learn a lesson and also his girlfriend. These young people do need to be rehabilitated.
Bazalic eh? She was trying to deceive the police. They are better off growing and taking Bazalic (Basil). It is a healthy herb.
Marijuana is a dangerous, unhealthy and illegal drug which could also send them to their death and an early one.
Why do they not grow vegetables and herbs? They could also make money selling them. Not sufficient money for them?
This is really ironical. A man is charged so much money for drugs yet murderers roam the street on bail after killing our loved ones and attempting to kill others. what a miscalculation of judgement by the same magistrate.
Have you ever considered that due to their lawyers’ successful defense they obtained bail? The case is not yet called. The murderer will either be jailed for some years or acquitted. It all depends on the prosecution and defense statements. It also depends on the amount of marijuana which warrants the amount of fine.
I find that many of you question the fine and the bail for different offences. You should pray for your country and for those criminals. There is a lot of talking, questioning and not praying or enough of it with loving hearts. This is why crimes/murders escalated in Dominica. If this trend continues, nationals and visitors will not be able to walk the streets.
Legalizing marijuana is not the answer.
My brother you need to educate yourself before you speak
Not surprising, they following the cangarro court system we have at our disposal therefore, their xplaination and reasons are becoming more laughable day after day. It`s only a start.
…in the mean time the guy found with ill-egal, unlicensed machine gun and ammo is out poisoning the community and we worry about some Ganja?
DNO should know that Basilic is Basil in the Queen’s English, educate the public please…
2 english systems. British and American. #$%% the queen and america.
Oh plz…. Why should they quote it as basil when the person in question called it bazalic??? Smh…. Too much knowledge can just be a bad thing.
IT is a quote… If you change her words it is no longer a quote. She said Bazalic call it what she called it… chaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Those police take pleasure in that ehh, hurrraaaay,, go for all u price saKway ch……………n
The girl see bazalic the man see weed the police get weed so who guilty…………..i would say the boyfriend wi papa maybe the girl put her tea bush there and he switch it with the herb
…and wut green donkey u milking for ur sharp tools?
She knew wut it was… fact she say dem “coming down on”… alone finds her guilty.
I don’t understand Y they still charge the young woman when the Man plead guilty to the charges……. I can understand if the Police came to the house and got the weed and nobody want to claim it then everybody in the house should pay for it but If someone already plead guilty ( meaning that they r claiming the weed to be theirs)
Y r the charges on the Young Woman was not dropped???
Why? Wasn’t she involved? So if me and you kill and man and you plead guitly and I plead not guilty then i should automatically go free? just asking.
Because she pleaded not guilty, dummy!. She will then go to trial. As for the man, he pleaded guilty early and was therefore fined $24,000. Ignorance!
He is a nuisance…. He was not charged enough.
she not a smart girlfriend na. from the time she see police she shouting”they going down with us today”. suspicion!
this is a 19 year old girl that has a future ahead of her. she shoul be doing something constructive with her life. she is not innocent at all and she even telling police is bazilic. lol
wut future? One in court maybe…
Yes but how old is Baron? The girlfriend age plaster all over the story.
Whaw 19 u should be in college but u want to have
Blackberry and other things like bling etc etc
That’s all u young girls are doing fast money for
Creole test your parents or who ever should not bail
You so u can learn and taste jail. Stupesszzz
$24000.00 for bazalic? or weed?bazalic that there she say,weed that there he say.
hmmmm and i sing *stand by your man give him two arms to cling to* lol my girl u well good
lol