Allister Brown allegedly also told police officers that he had some bigger plants in another area on the farm but after he was caught with the one farm he later went back and destroyed the others. Photo: VINO

This all allegedly took place on the farm land of HMP where brown is serving time for another crime. The case was one of the strangest for the day in the Magistrate’s Court on Friday September 5, 2014 when the matter was called and the allegations were read.

The prosecution alleged that on May 27, 2014 a prison officer took six prisoners including Brown out to work on the crop and poultry farm as part of a rehabilitation programme. Brown was allegedly assigned clear a plot of area which had over grown grass using a weed whacker machine.

Some time had elapsed and the prison officer allegedly realized that he was not hearing the machine and decided to investigate when he noticed Brown coming from an area on the farm away from where he was sent to work.

He allegedly approached Brown and ordered him to take him to the area where he had been. Complying with the order Brown took the prison officer to the area and it was at that time that the officer saw the well cultivated illegal plants.

Brown allegedly admitted to the prison officer that it was his crop. The find was reported to the Superintendent of Prison Mr David Foot who under the instructions of the Governor called in the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) and Brown was released into their custody.

It was alleged that while in police custody Brown had said that he had found the seeds in his cell and decided to plant them for his personal use.

He allegedly also told police officers that he had some bigger plants in another area on the farm but after he was caught with the one farm he later went back and destroyed the others.

Those for which he was slapped with the two charges after being processed were said to have had a street value of $1,750 from the 175 plants.

Brown pleaded not guilty to both charges and is to return to court on November 28, 2014 for trial.