Scooter rental agent gets year in prison for drug possession

Tue, Oct 28th 2014, 12:13 AM

A scooter rental agent was on Monday sentenced to 12 months in prison for having 23 grams of marijuana with intent to supply.
Police arrested Renato Zhavargo Russell, 38, of Ross Corner, on October 25 at Festival Place because he matched the description of a suspect, the court heard.
The officers found 10 packages of marijuana with a combined weight of 23 grams in a red pouch that was around Russell's neck.
At first, Russell attempted to plead guilty to the less serious charge of drug possession at his arraignment before Magistrate Andrew Forbes, but Assistant Superintendent Ercell Dorsett refused to accept the plea.
Russell pleaded guilty to drug possession with intent to supply, but still maintained that he had the drugs for personal consumption as part of his Rastafarian faith.
Forbes said that he would have to remand Russell to prison pending trial as his plea was equivocal.
Russell eventually pleaded guilty to drug possession with intent to supply, admitting that he planned to sell the drugs. Russell said that the $245 that police took from him as suspected drug profits belonged to the scooter rental company.
Forbes ordered the money returned to the company.
Asked to explain his actions, Russell said he was trying to raise money to start another business.
Forbes asked, "You ever heard of going to the bank?"
Russell claimed that he was unable to get a loan.
Forbes sentenced Russell to two concurrent six-month sentences for possession of marijuana and cocaine in June.
Russell was placed on probation in those cases after he pleaded guilty and claimed that he needed help for his drug problem.
Russell could have received an absolute discharge had he successfully completed a drug counseling program and stayed out of trouble.

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