Eight-month prison sentence handed down to duo who stole appliances and sold them; innocent third man acquitted

Two men, one of whom went before the court last week for stealing
a pack of chewing gum from a Perry Bay Supermarket, have each
been sentenced to eight months in prison.

Jermaine Julian of St. Johnston’s Village and Vonean Valentine of
Clare Hall appeared in the St. John’s Magistrates Court before Chief
Magistrate Joanne Walsh and pleaded guilty to stealing a Flotec
water pump and pressure tank valued at $3,000.

The duo, who has previous convictions, reportedly stole the items
on June 22 from a Sutherlands property.

(Julian had appeared before the court last week on a larceny charge.
He was reprimanded and discharged, since his explanation of how
he came to be in possession of the supermarket’s gum seemed
plausible.)

Meanwhile, in relation to the larceny offence, the Police had arrested
and charged a third man, Laurence Phillips of Paynters, for receiving
stolen goods.

Apparently Julian and Valentine had sold the water pump and
pressure tank to another man, who, knowing that Phillips is a
plumber, had asked him to check and verify that the items were in
working condition.

It was determined that Phillips had not purchased the stolen items,
but only checked them.

After he told the court that he did not know the two accused – who
also admitted they did not know him, either – Phillips was
reprimanded, discharged and warned not to find himself back
before the court.

Reportedly, questions were raised as to why the Police had not
charged the actual buyer, who apparently had returned the items,
saying he did not know they had been stolen.