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Jemark "Parch Nuts" Jackson. (iWN file photo)
Jemark “Parch Nuts” Jackson. (iWN file photo)
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Campden Park resident Jemark “Parch Nuts” Jackson, 25, on Tuesday received an automatic three-month prison sentence and a one-year jail term for handling stolen goods.

The three-month prison term, which had been suspended for one year, beginning last November, came into effect when the man pleaded guilty to a charge of handling stolen goods, a crime for which he received the one-year prison sentence.

Jackson, who has a history of burglary and handling stolen goods, pleaded guilty to the charge, relating to EC$2,204.50 in goods he had in his possession, which were stolen from a shop in Campden Park.

The items belonged to Cathy-Ann Lewis, a 51-year-old chef, and were among a larger set of items, worth some EC$8,000 stolen from her provisions shop in March.

At the sentencing hearing at the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, Jackson told the court he knows he was wrong to have accepted the stolen items, hence his guilty plea.

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“I ain’t got nothing else to say, your worship,” said Jackson, who in December, walked free on a charge of handling stolen goods  after the prosecution was unable to enter the exhibits into evidence on account of sloppy policing.

Last November, Senior Magistrate Rickie Burnett imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, on Jackson.

The magistrate made the decision after hearing Jackson’s mitigation on a charge — of handling three vehicle batteries — to which Jackson and fellow Campden Park resident, Jamie Johnson had pleaded guilty.

On Tuesday, Burnett told Jackson that he could understand why he had nothing to say in relation to his most recent crime.

“… because I have your record in front me. Not a good one,” Burnett said.

Prosecutor Police Constable Corlene Samuel told the court that she was looking at a custodial sentence for Jackson.
She said that while some of the stolen articles were recovered, the food items and cannot be used again.

Samuel noted that most of the stolen items were not recovered, adding that Jackson knew what he was doing and tried to deceive the police by saying that he had bought the items.

She said Jackson must be made to answer and the sentence should reflect the seriousness of his action.

Meanwhile, the magistrate noted that the complainant had lost almost EC$8,000 in goods.

“Who is going to compensate her? How is Cathy-Ann Lewis going to get back her items? She is going to be worse off after the exercise. She is not in a position to do anything,” Burnett said.

He added, almost immediately, “But, Mr. Jackson, I don’t know when you are going to change, but your record is just terrible. You are always in my court. Look at your record.”

The magistrate continued to lament the loss the complainant suffered.

“This cannot be right at all. Eight thousand dollars worth of stuff taken from the lady’s business and nobody is going to compensate her. A small business,” he said.

He noted Jackson’s suspended sentence and said, “So, right away, he has to go to prison for three months.”

Burnett said he gave Jackson credit for his early guilty plea, but said the aggravating features are Jackson’s most recent conviction, that most of the items were not recovered, and the prevalence of burglary and theft in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

“The maximum sentence is two years and I am going to give you one o those years,” Burnett told Jackson, noting that this is in addition to the three months.

Jackson was on remand since his arrest in March and the time spent on remand will be deducted from his sentence.