March 29, 2024
Ocho Rios, St. Ann. Jamaica
THE COURTS

TEEN IN COURT FOR HOLD UP AND ROBBERY OF PHONE FROM SCHOOLGIRL

TEEN IN COURT FOR HOLD UP AND ROBBERY OF PHONE FROM SCHOOLGIRL

He and 2 men jumped into sea during police chase

A  16-year-old male who along with two other men who were arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation and conspiracy to commit robbery, was granted bail when he appeared in the Port Maria Resident Magistrate court on Thursday, June 5, 2014. The teen, who is a minor and hence cannot be named, was given bail by RM Calys Wiltshire in the sum of $50,000, with up to three sureties. He is also to report to the Oracabessa Police station daily and a curfew order was also imposed on him. Prior to receiving his bail, it was revealed in court that the youth was not in school for the past year and has been facing serious social issues which may have caused him to become involved in delinquent acts. The RM referred him to the probation office for intervention. Stern warning was given to the teen by the RM who charged him not to be in the company of the two men and urged his mother to ensure that he is “enrolled in something that will keep him off the road.” Allegations are that on Wednesday, May 21 2014, the teen and two men; 23-year-old Sheldon Anderson of Rio Nuevo, and 21-year-old Kevin Smith of Stewart Town in St Mary, held up and robbed a female student of Iona High School of a  HTC Merge cellular phone and then fled. The incident reportedly occurred along Swaby Avenue in Tower Isles while the student was returning from a CSEC examination.  The police, who were alerted by residents, chase the men who allegedly jumped into the sea as a means of escape. Members of the Area 2 Operation Support Unit and Street Crime Unit, along with local fishermen went in pursuit and recovered the phone and arrested the men.  The cellular phone was said to be found in the possession of Anderson who could only swim a few meters away from shore. Smith and the teen were chased some distance away for the shore where they were accosted by the officers. In court on Thursday, a bewildered looking teen appeared before RM Wiltshire as transportation issues at the Oracabessa lock-up prevented the transport of Smith and Anderson to court. All the accused in the case got a returned mention date of Thursday, June 19. At that time, a community report on the teen is to be completed by the Probations Department.