Man charged under Lotteries Act wants to change plea
A man who decided to change his guilty plea, after his co-accused told the court that he would take full responsibility for the charges, will have to wait until next year to change his plea.
The man, Peter Ferguson, pleaded guilty to illegal bookmaking and aiding and abetting when he appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, but decided to changed his plea. This came after his co-accused Paul Grey — who had pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property under section 93 (I) of the Proceeds of Crime Act; aiding and abetting illegal bookmaking, section 19 of the Betting Gaming and Lottery Act; and illegal bookmaking, section 19 (I) of the Betting and Lotteries Act — told the court that he took full responsibility for the charges.
Ferguson’s girlfriend Colleen Black, who was also charged, pleaded guilty to illegal bookmaking and aiding and abetting in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.
The prosecutor told the court that $385,000 was seized following an operation at a property Ferguson and Black occupied.
Grey told the court that on the day in question he went to his friend’s house with illegal documents, which included horse racing betting papers.
Ferguson told the court that his friend took the papers to his house, and as a result he was charged.
But the judge, who was not impressed by his explanation, asked: “If someone have illegal car documents and come to my house, I am guilty? If you have an illegal gun and you come to my house, you are guilty?”
The judge told Ferguson that she was unclear as to what he was saying.
“Are you guilty and you said guilty, so clearly you are in guilt,” the judge said, adding: “Is either you are accepting responsibility or you are not.”
Black pointed out that Grey visits the house occasionally but said she had never ventured around the section where Grey and Ferguson conduct their horse racing business.
At that time, Grey offered to take full responsibility.
A January 3, 2018 sentence date was set.
Ferguson, who was curious, questioned whether he would be sentenced, given the fact that Grey said he would take full responsibility.
“I don’t want to waste the court time,” Ferguson said.
The judge told him that he should not worry about the court’s time because it is paid for.
“Can I change my plea?” Ferguson asked.
The judge told Ferguson that she had explained two scenarios to him but he insisted on pleading guilty.
However, the judge told him the court would look into it.