Guilty of having stolen items from church

A 46-year-old man with five previous convictions pleaded guilty yesterday to receiving musical equipment belonging to the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church at Tunapuna. Wayne Thomas, a father of four girls, threw himself at the mercy of the court when he appeared before Madame Justice Alice Yorke-Soo Hon in the Port-of-Spain Third Criminal Court. Thomas was charged with receiving three microphones and an amplifier system valued at $6,000 between August 18 and 21, 2001. State attorney Alexander Prince prosecuted, while Ulric Skerritt represented Thomas.

The judge postponed sentencing to May 26. The court heard that on August 19, 2001, George Rampersad, sexton, and Carlos Lakhan, vice-chairman, secured the Aramalaya Presbyterian Church at Cochrane Street and left. Around 1 am on August 20, 2001, Constables Ronald Williams and Arlette Groom were on patrol in an unmarked police vehicle along the Eastern Main Road in Tunapuna, when they saw the accused with a box under his right arm. The police vehicle pulled alongside the accused and the policemen called on him to stop. When a search was carried out, the items were found. When asked for an explanation, Thomas replied, “I got them from a maxi in Monte Grande.”

Thomas was taken to the Tunapuna Police Station. Both Rampersad and Lakhan went to the police station where they identified the items as belonging to the church. In his plea for leniency, attorney Skerritt said his client admitted having five previous convictions. He said at the time of the offence, Thomas was a substance abuser. Since he was charged with this offence, Thomas has been incarcerated in prison having not been able to secure bail. Skerritt added, “Since entering prison, he has had time to reflect on his life, he has had time to reflect on where he wants to go and he has also indicated he has had an opportunity to remain free from any drugs.”