By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

A MAN was sentenced to almost two years in prison yesterday for admitting to being caught with over $100,000 worth of marijuana he planned to distribute to others last week.

Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Subusola Swain sentenced Christopher Mortimer to 20 months in prison concerning the $111,000 worth of drugs he was caught with on August 15.

According to prosecutor Sergeant Lincoln McKenzie, sometime around 9.50pm on the date in question, a team of officers, acting on information and armed with a search warrant, went to a house at Mt Tabor Estates.

When the officers arrived and encountered Mortimer, they showed him the search warrant and told him he was suspected of having dangerous drugs and firearms and that a search would be conducted of himself and the premises.

Sgt McKenzie said Mortimer then told the officers that some drugs were in a burgundy and green suitcase somewhere on the premises. When the officers searched the suitcase, they found four brown taped packages containing marijuana.

Mortimer was subsequently arrested.

The officers continued to search the premises, Sgt McKenzie said. He said the officers went to a wooden shed, where they found two white crocus sacks that contained six brown taped packages containing marijuana lying in “plain view”.

The officers subsequently took Mortimer to his white Toyota Tundra truck. Once there, one of the officers looked underneath the rear seat, where he found one brown paper bag and a black backpack containing marijuana.

Mortimer subsequently told the officers that all of the drugs in the house and the vehicle belonged to him. He was ultimately taken to the Central Detective Unit (CDU), where he gave a statement under caution in which he again admitted that the drugs were his.

Sgt McKenzie said the Crown was seeking a custodial sentence of no less than 18 months.

In mitigation, his attorney Ian Cargill said his client, who owns a Jet Ski business and dive company, was remorseful, hence his cooperation with police during the investigative stage.

Mr Cargill also said his client is married and a father of four children, ages two, six, eight, and 11. However, Mr Cargill said his wife has a “terminal illness” and can’t work, thus making him the sole provider for his family.

Thus, Mr Cargill asked the court to consider giving Mortimer a custodial sentence between 12 to 14 months.

However, the senior magistrate sentenced Mortimer to 20 months and ordered the drugs to be destroyed.