Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

WESTERN BUREAU

A 44-year-old St. James taxi operator and deportee, who pleaded guilty to cocaine charges, was sentenced to three months in prison in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Donovan Wilson was charged along with three others; 23-year-old Norrette Moore, Tashana Oliver, 21, and Orthneal Rose, 32; all of Flankers addresses, for possession of heroin.

His three co-accused entered not guilty pleas.

Wilson is also facing an additional charge for bribery and possession of a counterfeit note, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

The other three accused persons were granted $30,000 bail bonds in March, when they first appeared before the court. Mr. Wilson was however remanded.

The four were arrested on March 26 after police recovered the contraband at Wilson's home where all the accused persons reside.

They were charged jointly for possession and dealing in cocaine, as well as possession of heroin. However, the cocaine charge was withdrawn against Oliver, Rose and Moore after Wilson claimed full responsibility for the substance.

10 years behind US bars

Defence attorney Morrel Beckford, who mitigated on Wilson's behalf told RM Winsome Henry that his client had spent ten years and four months in prison for cocaine charges in the United States. He was subsequently deported to Jamaica in 2000.

He said that up to the day when he was arrested he had walked the straight and narrow. He argued that sending him to prison would hamper self-rehabilitation.

However, RM Henry said the accused had not learned from his past experiences, and as an adult should know better.

Wilson is scheduled to return to court on May 16 in relation to the other charges.

The court is still awaiting the forensic report in relation to the heroin.

Allegations are that on March 26, the police visited Wilson's home with a search warrant under the Dangerous Drug Act.

The police saw Oliver, and explained to her that they had a warrant to search the house. She subsequently made a phone call to Wilson as he had the keys to enter the house.

Wilson subsequently came into the yard and a search of his person turned up at a ratchet knife. He said he had it for protection.

Further allegations are that a search of Wilson's room revealed a counterfeit US$100 note in a drawer. A further search of the room Rose and Oliver occupied revealed 14 parcels of two ounces each of cocaine in a shirt pocket in a closet.

A parcel of heroin weighing less than an ounce was found as well. Wilson said that the cocaine belonged to him but the others said they knew nothing.

Rose was also searched and a ganja spliff was found on his person.

The court also heard that Wilson took a corporal to a corner and offered the officer US$579 and $16,850 to overlook the charges. He allegedly told the cop that the cocaine was his and told him that the others had no knowledge of the contraband.