One of three Bermudians charged with conspiring to import cocaine in February walked away with from Magistrates' Court this week with a $250 fine.

The charge against The Royal Gazette's press room manager Jamal Reuben Pearman was annulled after a short form preliminary inquiry hearing on Thursday morning.

However Pearman, 30, of Town Hill Road, Smith's Parish, was ordered to pay a $250 fine by Magistrate Edward King for a second charge of possession of cannabis.

Pearman was originally charged on February 6 with conspiring with Judy Louise Spence, Comal Shavon Spence and unknown others to import cocaine between February 2 and an unknown date.

He also faced charges of misusing cocaine, possessing cannabis and possessing a cooking pot and ashtray -- equipment intended for the misuse of a controlled drug.

But his lawyer, United Bermuda Party Sen. Mark Pettingill, reported yesterday that Pearman only pleaded guilty to the possession charge and was fined by Mr.

King.

The Magistrate had annulled the conspiracy to import cocaine charge and the prosecution offered no evidence in relation to the other matters.

Pearman, Judy Spence and Comal Spence were originally arrested after an international drugs operation netted narcotics worth $500,000.

Judy Spence, 44, of Boundary Terrace, Devonshire and Comal Spence, 23, of High Point Road, Devonshire will face a trial in the Supreme Court, it is understood.

Along with the conspiring to import cocaine charge, the pair also face allegations of handling cocaine intended for supply and possession of cocaine intended for supply.

Judy Spence is further charged with possession of cannabis and crack cocaine.

US authorities arrested five people, all from Massachusetts and New York, in connection with the smuggling ring after they picked them up at Boston's Logan Airport on January 31.

They were charged by US Customs agents and have been indicted in federal court with smuggling liquid cocaine into the US from Jamaica.