Shareena Nero a 31-year-old mother of three from the community of Sandy Bay but residing in the Mesopotamia Valley counted her lucky stars on the morning of Thursday December 14th when she was given a non-custodial sentence by Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett.
When she appeared before the senior Magistrate at the Kingstown Magistrate Court, Nero pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing one cellular phone from Joeann Vaughn of New Montrose at the National Lotteries Headquarters at the Paul’s Avenue on Thursday December 6th, 2018.
The Court heard that on the date in question Vaughn went to the Lottery Headquarters to purchase tickets during which time she placed a bag containing the cellular phone on one of the chairs in customers’ area and proceeded to go purchase her tickets at the counter.
When Vaughn returned to the chair and picked up her bag and made a check, she discovered that her phone was missing.
It is reported that she inquired of all the persons who were present about the phone and no one admitted to taking it.
The matter was reported to the Police who went to the Lottery Headquarters and made checks on the civilian footage where Nero was seen placing the cell phone into her bag.
She was taken into custody she said that it was her five years old daughter who had placed the phone in her bag.
After hearing that recently a female was jailed for stealing a winning 3D ticket from her employer, Lawyers Stephen Huggins and Vynnette Fredericks who were among several lawyers at the bar table rose to their feet and mitigated on Nero’s behalf.
They requested of the Court not to impose a custodial sentence citing that she had no previous conviction, being a mother of three she should be allowed to spend the Christmas season with them.
As a result, Nero was ordered by the Senior Magistrate to pay compensation for the phone being $534.00 by February 14th, 2019 or face a two months jail term.
She was also bonded to keep the peace for one year in the sum of $1,000.00.
If within that year she defaults the order the sum becomes payable immediately in default the two months jail term will be imposed upon her.
