PHILIPSBURG–Two men appeared in Court for having committed burglaries at businesses. They were both found guilty and sentenced for these crimes.
Joshua Chidelfi Emmanuel was sentenced to 18 months suspended and 100 hours of community service for having committed eight burglaries. He was also placed under Parole Board supervision, which may include treatment at Turning Point drug rehabilitation centre, and was ordered to pay damages to his victims totalling US $2,096.
The prosecutor had called for six months suspended, on three years’ probation with 240 hours of community service and Parole Board guidance.
The judge found it proven that the defendant had broken into the office of Dr. Grace Spencer on Oleander Road at the end of March and had made away with $1,348 in fundraiser proceeds for the Diabetes Foundation of St. Maarten.
He was also convicted of having broken into three businesses – a restaurant and two stores – at Royal Palm Plaza on Front Street, on March 20.
The cash registers that were stolen from the businesses were later found at one location on Boardwalk Boulevard, but the money was missing. A laptop, two cases of beer, seven bottles of whisky and pieces of “bling-bling” were also stolen. The thief had gained entry by breaking into the window displays with pieces of rock.
Emmanuel was arrested on March 27 for the break-in and theft at Discount Furniture on Bush Road, during which $2,150 was taken from a filing cabinet. The suspect denied these charges and said he had only taken a phone and a bottle of water from the store.
He was released April 3, and held again three days later for a break-in at La Nueva Rita on Cannegieter Street during which $400 was taken. He was also charged with having broken into Francis Bar on A.Th. Illidge Road, where $150 was stolen.
In sentencing, the judge took into consideration that the suspect had caused a lot of damage and that his victims, who were making an honest living, had lost money through his acts.
Attorney-at-law Geert Hatzmann agreed with the prosecutor’s vision on this case, but pointed out that his client was “more or less” in detention already, as he has been undergoing intramural treatment at Turning Point rehabilitation centre since April 2019 and would have to remain there until at least April 2020.
In an unrelated case, a 32-year-old suspect was sentenced to 30 days, 27 of which were suspended, on two years’ probation. This suspect will also be placed under supervision by the Parole Board.
Atiel Ricardo Smithen was sentenced according to the prosecutor’s demand for having broken into Shieka’s restaurant and catering in downtown Philipsburg on August 16. The marijuana-using defendant confessed to having broken a window, after which he took six bottles of liquor.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/93017-two-men-sentenced-for-burglaries-at-businesses
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