Juveniles remanded to State Prison for unlawfully entering Tony Astaphan’s home

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan's home was broken into by two juveniles

The luck of two juvenile offenders ran out last Friday when they were remanded at the Dominica State Prison until their trial for the unlawful entry and intent to steal from the home of Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan in St. Aroment on January 6, 2010.

The two boys, who appeared to be below the age of 16, were accompanied by a parent/guardian each before Magistrate Gloria Augustus on Friday.

Though the details of the matter were not revealed, Magistrate Augustus made it clear that it was not the first time the pair was in trouble with the law. She indicated that she was fed up with the young offenders’ behaviour after she had done all she could to help them.

She spoke of her last encounter with one of the boys during the Christmas season where she cautioned and gave money to him, and made him vow that he would not get into any more trouble with the law.

The younger of the boys pleaded guilty while the older teen said that he was not guilty. Their trial was adjourned for March 10, 2010.

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10 Comments

  1. Chica
    January 12, 2010

    @ Way Papa, I totally support your suggestion.

  2. Way Papa
    January 12, 2010

    Why would we want to send these minors to prison. As senior counsel Tony should use the opportunity to impress upon the PM the need for a jouvenille center.

  3. Celus
    January 11, 2010

    I think it’s time for us to introduce a form of boot camp for youthful offenders that commit crime that borders on nuisance or petty theft. If they don’t complete the program which should include some form of study in a trade or academic pursuit, they should go straight to jail without stopping at GO!!!!!!!

  4. January 11, 2010

    The man is a consul…to Norway or something (somewhere in Europe)….so yes that makes him a dignitary…gosh Dominicans stop the hatin!

  5. rushand
    January 11, 2010

    give them the cat o nine up there at storky and give the parents a quarter of each share of blows, as most of these deliquent acts are due to poor parenting. Punish the parents too…it is time they take responsibility for their children…..especially the men. I say give them the cat o nine.

    tx u
    zero tolerance for crime

  6. Workers.
    January 11, 2010

    Well why are they working so promptly on Toney Case, My home was broken into four years ago, More then 10,000. dallars worth of my personal belonging was stolen and i have gone in and out of court only to be told or to hear the case is postponded at the later i do not hear anything, i have gone to the DPP and all and i have no idea what is going on.

    Seems like some people do get special treatment, just like all crime is crime we all work hard for what we have so violations against all of us should be treated the dame.

  7. babz
    January 11, 2010

    i must say i am very surprised at some of the comment made. we Dominicans our minds are too small that is why we are struggling to reach somewhere and putting the blame on the government . if a man commit a crime he has to pay Mr Astaphans is a human being and Dominican just like us and we must stop criticizing
    true Dominican

  8. steve
    January 11, 2010

    TOny is not a DIgnitary……

  9. hmmm
    January 11, 2010

    ” Dignitary ?” This is a very interesting choice of word DNO, thought this guy was an ordinary citizen like the rest of us. I support the magistrate’s decision however on the youngsters they have to be thought a lesson, screw the rights of the child crap.. they must be punished.

  10. Mac-Arthur Haughton
    January 11, 2010

    Separate them and send them up, unfortunately it looks like all efforts have fallen on two pairs of deaf ears. Those who do not hear must feel.

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