Mom out on $80,000 bail

A LAVENTILLE mother of three and a teenager were yesterday each granted bail in the sum of $80,000 by Port-of-Spain Magistrate Avason Quinlan. The two pleaded not guilty when they appeared before the Magistrate at the Four C Court charged with possession of a pistol, a shotgun, three rounds of 12-gauge cartridges and five rounds of ammunition.

Janelle James, of Mango Alley in Laventille and Keon Maynard, 19, of Upper Townsend Street, Laventille, were arrested on Saturday at James’ home following a raid of the house by officers of the Besson Street Police Station and the Inter-Agency Task Force. They were subsequently charged by PC Wayne Charles of the Besson Street Police Station. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a third person. James, a housewife and mother of three girls aged three, five and seven, was represented by attorney Gordon Lamming. Maynard had not yet retained legal counsel.

“There is much more to this situation than meets the eye,” Lamming claimed during his bail application. He hinted that although the arms and ammunition were found at her house, she was not involved. He implored Quinlan to show leniency, since someone had to be there to take care of the children. James’ husband was noticeably absent from the courtroom. James, Lamming said, had one previous narcotics matter that had been dismissed. Bail was set to cover all charges;  James’ with a surety and Maynard’s with a surety to be approved by the Clerk of the Peace. The matter was transferred to the Four B Court and adjourned to April 29.