A woman who was seen in a video hurling threats at the security forces following the police killing of One Order gang leader Othniel “Thickman” Lobban in January has been fined $900,000 or four months’ imprisonment.

Parish Court Judge Geneta Smikle handed down the sentence against 22-year-old Dhana Warren in the St Catherine Parish Court on Thursday. Warren had been convicted of sending obscene or threatening data under Section 9 of the Cybercrimes Act.

In sentencing Warren, Judge Smikle prioritised rehabilitation over incarceration, citing the accused’s personal circumstances, early guilty plea, and potential for reform.

READ: Woman charged after issuing threats to police

Warren, who was represented by attorney-at-law Rodain Richardson, pleaded guilty at the first instance, allowing the court to consider a sentence discount under Section 42D of the Criminal Justice (Administration) (Amendment) Act, which provides for reductions of up to 50 per cent when pleas are entered at the earliest opportunity.

In his mitigation plea, Richardson presented Warren as a first-time offender who had endured a childhood marked by abandonment, abuse, and exploitation as a former ward of the state. He explained that her actions, though serious, were impulsive and committed under the influence of alcohol and cannabis, not reflective of a criminal disposition.

The court also accepted that Warren had no prior convictions, had expressed genuine remorse, and had already spent approximately four months in custody, which the defence submitted had been “a sobering and transformative experience.”

Social inquiry reports confirmed that she posed no threat to public safety, and that the offence was an isolated incident rather than a pattern of criminal behaviour.

Judge Smikle acknowledged the psychosocial trauma and mental health challenges faced by the accused and commended her family’s commitment to support her rehabilitation, including plans for skills training in cosmetology and ongoing counselling.

“This is not a case that cries out for harshness,” Richardson submitted. “It is one that calls for wisdom, compassion, and the belief that people—even those who falter—can change.”

The court ultimately found that a custodial sentence was not appropriate, opting instead to impose a fine with the alternative of imprisonment, and issued a stern warning about future conduct. The judge also strongly encouraged Warren to seek treatment for substance abuse as part of her reintegration.