Painter granted $200,000 bail in marijuana trafficking case

Quacy Lawrence Gonzales, a 48-year-old painter from Lot 14, Republic Drive, Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara (ECD), was granted bail in the sum of $200,000 on Friday after appearing in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court before Chief Magistrate (ag) Faith McGusty.

Gonzales, who was charged with possession of 371 grams of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking, was previously remanded to prison. However, during his most recent court appearance, he was represented by attorney Domnick Bess, who argued for bail, stating that his client had no prior convictions and was not a flight risk.
The prosecution objected to bail, maintaining that the narcotics were found in Gonzales’ possession.
Magistrate McGusty then inquired whether the substance had been tested, to which the prosecution admitted that it had not.
After considering the arguments, the Magistrate granted Gonzales bail at $200,000 under the condition that he report to the Brickdam Police Station on the first Friday of every month.
His next court date is set for February 28, 2025.
The charge against Gonzales stems from a January 21, 2025 incident on Water Street, Georgetown. According to the prosecution, law enforcement officers, acting on intelligence about drug trafficking in the area, spotted Gonzales allegedly fleeing while carrying a bag.
Officers pursued and apprehended him, reportedly discovering marijuana inside the bag. Gonzales however, denied ownership of the bag and its contents, claiming he was merely in the market when he saw people running and instinctively followed suit. He stated that when police approached him, they found the bag on the ground and wrongly assumed it was his.
Initially unrepresented in court, Gonzales was remanded after the prosecution opposed bail, citing the serious nature of the offence. However, with legal representation, he was able to secure his release as the case progresses.