Teen charged with stealing motorbikes in armed robbery attacks

A young man was remanded to prison yesterday after he was charged with four armed robberies, which saw the theft of three motorcycles from their respective owners.

Leon Patterson, 18, appeared in the courtroom of Principal Magistrate Faith McGusty, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charges stated that on October 11th at Meadowbrook Gardens, Georgetown, in the company of others and armed with a gun, he stole a $290,000 motorcycle, which was the property of Jerome Mitchell.

The second charge stated that on October 14th, at Baramita Street, South Ruimveldt, in the company of others and armed with a gun, he stole a $435,000 motorcycle, which was the property of Richard Cozier.

It was also alleged that on the same day at Freeman Street, East La Penitence, in the company of others and armed with a gun, he stole an $87,000 cellphone, which was the property of Tyrese George.

The last charge stated that on the same date and also at the same location, in the company of others and armed with a gun, Patterson stole a $60,000 cellphone and a $175,000 motorcycle, which were the property of Timothy Eswick.

After the young man denied the charges, his attorney, Stanley Moore, in a bail application, informed the court that he is a helper to his mother, who is a clothes vendor. The lawyer also explained that the youth has younger siblings whom he also helps to take care of while their mother is at work. However, Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris objected to the 18-yearold being released on bail. He objected on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of armed robbery and the penalty it attracts.

The magistrate, after careful deliberation, remanded Patterson to prison until November 25th. The matter was also transferred to Court 3, where it will be heard before Principal Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus.