Security guard fined, jailed 18 months for ganja possession
A security guard who admitted to possessing cannabis was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $30,000 when he appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Tishawn McKenzie of Laing Avenue had pleaded guilty to the charge, but was remanded to prison pending a probation report to assess his background and circumstances. The report, completed in time for Tuesday’s sentencing, was taken into consideration before Magistrate McGusty handed down the sentence.
McKenzie was charged after police found 75 grams of cannabis in a blue haversack at his home during a search on February 6. Police had reportedly gone to his residence while investigating a separate matter involving a break-in and robbery at a Chinese supermarket, where McKenzie, employed as a security guard, had been stationed nearby.
Sentenced: Tishawn McKenzie
During his court appearance, McKenzie claimed that he was only taking responsibility for the drugs to protect his wife, alleging that she had purchased the drugs for a birthday celebration that never took place. He insisted that the cannabis was not intended for sale or distribution, but remained in their home after the planned event was cancelled.
However, when questioned by the magistrate, McKenzie admitted that he was aware cannabis-possession is illegal, and that he understood it attracted the possibility of a custodial sentence.
His demeanour reportedly changed upon realizing that he would not receive a non-custodial penalty.
McKenzie is no stranger to the law. In 2021, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for escaping from police custody while being held on allegations of break and enter, larceny, and a sexual offence. He was later remanded in 2022 for attempted murder, after reportedly attacking a man with a piece of wood over a dispute about a stolen glass door. Additionally, in 2023, he was charged with possession of 225 grams of cannabis for trafficking, but was granted bail at the time.
Taking these factors into account, Magistrate McGusty ruled that a custodial sentence was necessary.
