19-y-o charged with child pornography granted bail

Neo Glen, a 19-year-old from Cummings Street, Georgetown, was on Friday brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on allegations of possessing child pornography. Glen appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty and pleaded not guilty to the charge. The allegation states that on September 8, at Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, Glen was found with pornographic videos of children stored on his computer system.
Represented by Attorney-at-Law Kiswana Jefford, Glen applied for bail. Jefford told the court that her client suffers from a mental condition, which makes his circumstances unique. She explained that although police took Glen to a doctor, who reportedly found him to be of sound mind, this does not negate his condition, since he has episodes where he functions normally despite his illness.
Jefford emphasised that Glen has no prior convictions, no pending matters and resides with his mother at Cummings Street, Cummingsburg. She urged the court to grant him bail in a reasonable sum. The prosecutor, however, objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and the penalties it carries. The prosecutor informed the court that the videos found on the device clearly depicted the faces of multiple children. Further, although Glen initially denied ownership of the phone, investigators traced the number and linked it back to him. Forensic analysis also uncovered additional videos, and while in custody, the accused reportedly asked police not to contact his mother. Jefford challenged that assertion, arguing that the prosecution cannot tender such claims as evidence at this stage, and maintained that matters regarding ownership of the phone are to be determined at trial. After hearing both sides, Magistrate McGusty granted bail in the sum of $300,000. As a condition, Glen must report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters on the second Friday of every month between 8:00h and 17:00h. The case has been adjourned to October 17.