Man fined $200,000 for absconding bail in 11-year-old case
A man who absconded bail in 2013 following a date mix-up was fined $200,000 in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday.
Carlington Bryan appeared before a judge for the first time since his case had been called up over a decade earlier.
The man’s attorney explained that his client, for whom a bench warrant was issued, had missed his initial court date and, when he turned up after, was erroneously told the matter had been disposed of. However, the matter that had actually been disposed of was against Bryan’s co-accused.
He said Bryan was therefore unaware that he was still facing charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit larceny and malicious destruction.
When Bryan finally appeared in the parish court on Tuesday, the charge of absconding bail was added to the offences. He pleaded not guilty to the first three charges but admitted his guilt to the last.
However, in a further twist to the case, prosecutors could offer no evidence against Bryan regarding his original charges as the records pertaining to the case could not be found.
Chief Parish Judge Chester Crooks ordered Bryan to either pay the $200,000 fine or spend six months in prison for absconding bail.
Bryan’s attorney indicated the man had elected to pay the fine.
