Shaquilee Pont, a mechanic who lives in Long Look, pleaded not guilty to possession of goods suspected of being stolen in Magistrates’ Court on March 25.
After Mr. Pont pleaded, Crown Counsel Kael London read the allegations against him, claiming that he entered Mi Amor Jewellers on Main Street on July 30, 2020 and presented the store owner with two gold rings.
Mr. Pont allegedly told the store owner that he had visited other stores but wasn’t satisfied with the offers they had made for the jewellery, the prosecutor read.
But the owner, who is the complainant in the case, immediately recognised the rings as store merchandise that had been stolen “some time ago,” Mr. London alleged.
Mr. Pont told the complainant that he had bought the rings from someone for $1,400 and $1,800, respectively, the Crown counsel read.
The owner then produced similar rings with tags from the same manufacturer, Mr. London alleged.
In response, Mr. Pont asked for a finder’s fee, indicating that “the person he got the rings from was nice,” and that he didn’t want to get him in trouble, according to the prosecutor.
Meanwhile, police entered the store and interviewed the defendant, who handed over the rings, Mr. London read.
The complainant allegedly told the police that one ring was worth approximately $1,500 and the other roughly $2,000, according to the Crown counsel.
The officers then transported Mr. Pont to the police station, where he was interviewed under caution.
He explained that he had purchased the rings from someone in East End for $40, Mr. London alleged.
During his interview, Mr. Pont maintained that he had no idea the rings were stolen, the prosecutor explained, adding that they now are back in the store owner’s possession.
In making an application for Mr. Pont’s bail, attorney Reynela Rawlins said her client is a Virgin Islander with strong community ties and no previous convictions.
Mr. London did not object to a bail offer, and Magistrate Tamia Richards granted the request.