Allister Browne, 40, of Little Dix Hill was handed a sentence three months shy of the maximum three year sentence when he appeared before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, August 2, 2013 after pleading guilty to the charge of possession of a controlled drug. Photo: VINO

According to the allegations, on January 20, 2012 in the defendant’s home at Little Dix Hill, officers who had in their possession a warrant to search the premises where Mr. Browne resided, met the defendant on the outside of his home, identified themselves as officers of the RVIPF and made him aware of the warrant. 

In the facts presented to the Court by Crown Counsel Janice Stoutt, the Court heard that the defendant allegedly ran into the house and locked the doors. 

She further stated that after several attempts of negotiation with the defendant to open the door, one of the officers broke a window, as a means of entrance, but the defendant then opened the door. 

According to the officer’s statement, while conducting the search, a plastic bag of cannabis was allegedly found in his living room, along with two large zip lock bags and five ball shaped objects covered in tape. The ball shaped objects contained cannabis, according to the statement. 

When officers showed the defendant what they recovered, allegedly the defendant said “it is weed and it is mine, officer is weed in all of them.” 

Moving to the kitchen of the defendant’s home, the court was told that on top the refrigerator, officers allegedly found an orange bowl with cannabis, along with a scale, also containing cannabis. 

Cannabis was also allegedly found in a silver pot on the counter of the kitchen, and a white plastic bag with weed and a branch from a shelf.

Browne, who is also a gardener, told the court he was holding the substance for a friend. He also had a previous conviction on a similar charge in 2005 and served a three year sentence. Browne also claimed to have a medical condition and expressed that the substance was being used for health reasons.

Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards said the defendant’s late plea, which came nine months after the charges, counted against him. Other aggravating factors included the seriousness of the offence, its prevalence and the allegation that he ran from police officers (which was disputed by the defence).

Magistrate Richards also stated that the Crown’s case was overwhelming and that the defendant had readily admitted the offence to officers. She added that the misuse of drugs was a "sore" on society and stated that the defendant had clearly not learnt from his previous experience in prison.

Brown’s sentence of 33 months in prison was ruled as starting from the date of his first remand.