Repeat offender remanded
A homeless man who spent eight months in jail awaiting trial on a charge of stealing $15 was sent back to jail this week after pleading guilty to the charge so that a probation report could be prepared on the matter.
Michael Eugene Douglas, 25, pleaded guilty in Supreme Court on Tuesday to entering a St. George?s premises with the intent to commit a felony on December 14, 2004.
When originally charged last December, he denied stealing the money after being invited into the premises by the occupant.
He was granted bail but failed to meet the bail and was held in remand to await trial.
The court heard yesterday that Douglas has been in and out of Magistrates? Court a number of times since he was 17. He has a myriad of theft related offences, including trespassing, on his record.
Crown prosecutor Oonagh Vaucrosson said the Crown would accept a sentence of time served in this matter but Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons disagreed.
She cited Douglas? long list of crimes and said: ?There is something going on with this young man.?
She asked Douglas if he had any substance abuse problems, which he denied. Douglas later admitted he did have a problem with alcohol in the past, but said that he kicked the habit three months prior to his December arrest.
Justice Simmons ordered a probation report to establish where Douglas would live and be employed once released.
She also stressed that it was important that he be assessed for his addiction to alcohol to ensure he did not fall off the wagon once released.
Douglas will return to court on October 3.