UPDATE: Sista Joyce fined
BVI News Staff - Wednesday, September 12th, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Sistah Joyce
Prior to the imposing of a two-year sentence suspended for three years and $40,000 fine on calypsonian Joycelyn Searles aka Sister Joyce, Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens was told that the possession of cannabis matter has caused the popular singer much embarrassment.
The calypsonian, who was arrested on April 3 for possession of 452 grams of cannabis appeared in court on September 11 for sentencing.
Her attorney, Herbert McKenzie, in his mitigation, stated that from the onset Searles was honest and told the police when she was observed with the bag, what the content was and the intended purpose.
He said: “She has acted as an honourable defendant and done the right things.”
According to the facts of the case, the defendant invested in the drug after she lost her job. The defendant’s lawyer stated that it might dawn on her that this was not only an unwise investment but an expensive one. McKenzie begged the magistrate not to impose a custodial sentence on his client.
The lawyer said that the mother of three has no previous conviction and is now employed.
The attorney recalled that Searles is the Virgin Gorda Calypso Monarch and was adjudged first runner-up at the recently concluded emancipation festival calypso show. He explained that the offense caused the calypsonian much embarrassment. He said that admittedly, the embarrassment was self-inflicted, but still he said it was a sort of punishment and now the defendant understands the errors of her ways.
Searles addressed the court and apologised not only to the magistrate but to her children, family and supporters. She asked for leniency and a fine instead of a custodial sentence.
“I take full responsibility for my action and would make my best effort not to walk this road again,” she told the court.
Senior Magistrate Stephens in making her ruling pointed out that the offense carries a penalty of 10 years imprisonment or $100,000 fine. She told the defendant that in light of the quantity and intent to supply, a custodial sentence was warranted.
The Virgin Gorda calypso monarch’s sentence would be suspended for three years. This means that should she become entangled with the law during those years, she will have to spend two years at Her Majesty’s Prison. An additional six months imprisonment was ordered should the defendant default in her $40,000 fine.
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Joycelyn Searles aka Sistah Joyce was granted $60,000 signed bail and ordered to report to the Virgin Gorda Police Station every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
The calypsonian who was unrepresented when she appeared before Senior Magistrate Valerie Stephens today April 4 pleaded not guilty to the charges of unlawful possession of cannabis, and unlawful possession of cannabis with intent to supply.
It was announced that Searles was arrested on April 3 after it was discovered that she had 452 grams of cannabis in her possession.
The court heard that on Tuesday April 3 the defendant was seen at the Waterfront Ferry Terminal carrying a black handbag. Officers observed her entering the terminal and approached her and identified themselves to her.
The officers allegedly observed a odor coming from the defendant’s bag suspected to be cannabis. She was cautioned and asked if she had anything illegal on her; and she allegedly said that she just a little herb in her bag. The officers allegedly asked the defendant what she meant by a little herb and she allegedly said that it was one pound of marijuana.
She was cautioned and escorted to the Road Town Police Headquarter where she told officers during an interview that she is currently suspended from her job and had invested $1,400 in the marijuana. She said that she smokes marijuana but in addition to smoking it she intended to sell some of it.
A search warrant was executed on the defendant’s home but nothing was found.
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35 Comments
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READ TO COMPREHEND! ANd it’s sad because ayo is the same ones in jobs in the public sector. I hope officials putting some kind of workshop in place for ayo cause reading aint some of you strong point at all.
Some of you Characters that posting degrading and low-rating comments about Sis Joyce’s mishap need to realize that ‘what’s good for the goose is certainly good for the gander’ so None of you is exempted. Rejoicing over her mishap don’t make u all look good. All it does is show her she aint got much support from some of ayo FAKE FRIENDS that want to be up in her face. Be woman and man enough to tell her how ayo really feel. Regardless, wrong is wrong and right is right. She knows better but ayo down pressing her aint making ayo look no better. Maybe the Father got a lesson for her to learn and she didn’t get it the first time.
As for when it comes to her kids- Let the FATHERS take up whatever greiviances that they may have with her. BVI News aint the place. Some of you VG people just aint got no shame. If the man them was doing their part, they won’t be labelled Dead Beats. So If ayo is these man them friend- tell them stop beat their women- Rastas is LOVERS and not fighters. They making ALL OF US RAS LOOK BAD! #BOOOMMMM
I see dt dis tiny island still really old fashion.u r all sick for blaming her.she shuld b freed immediately n granted a national pride for selling weed to d tiny little pple.sick police sick pple all ya sick pple
legalize the ganja me sehhh!!! ganja never kill r harm nobody…
i does always see she wid a big head in her mouth
WHEN THE RAIN FALL IT DONT ON ONE MAN HOUSE TOP JUST KEEP PRAY FOR THE SISTER MAN THINGS HAPPEN ONLY ONE MAN PERFECK THE FATHER ABOVE SO PLS DONT REJOICE OVER HAPPEN
Sista Joyce why why why!!! Telling the police that you have a pound a weed and that you intend to sell some of it was just stupid. Then you ended up pleading not guilty, I already see the judge giving you an extra fine or jail time for wasting the court time. Letting the police know that you intended to sell just gives them room to slap you with an additional charge. I hope she just get a fine, I would like to see her this year for carnival. I could just see what her song would be, “one pound a weed, is all that me need, $1,400.00 invested in the seed, now me in jail waiting to be freed”
plz people we are all born to make mistakes i pray that none of u or ur family or ur kids never make a mistake at all in there life she is my big sister and as a searles we stand together no matter what the problem is we are a family andthe family that prays together always stays together and i will be there for my sister to the end if it means taken my $80 gran of the bank joyice keep; ur head up i got ur back love u big sis love mira everybody talkin maybe if roach use to take care of his ——- kids this would have never happen ye with out sin cast the first stone but make sure it does not touch my sister because it will be hell to tell the king when he come peace out all u
Mira u sound like a real ass. The whole of Virgin GOrda KNOWS that roach takes care of his kids. You trying to make your sister seem like miss goody 2 shoes, but ask yourself these questions. 1-How many kids does Joyce have? 2. How many of Joyce kids live with her? Now, i would say you need to apologize to Roach. The nly times i have seen Joyce kids live with her is when she was with hteir fathers(real talk). I am a Ganja smoker (i am a user, it DOES NOT use me). Your sister said she was suspended from her job (rolling eyes)! Now, dont you think it would hve been a better idea for her to have heeld on to her $1400 to assist her with meeting her next months rent or even giving a few dollars to Roach and Binghi (respectively) to help them out with feeding and clothing their kids (HER KIDS). Now she has LOST the $1400, LOST the Weed and LOST her case if you ask me. Its unfortunate that this happened to you Joyce, i am not happy nor rejoying caz it could happen to me as well. i truely hope that all goes well and that you learn from this. Its a new beginning. IN OTHER NEWS: HELP FEED YOUR KIDS and stop spending so much money on stuff that it “not cool”
Whatever UR religion strollin’ through customs with a pouch U can whiff a mile off is a bit – er – daft?
she said the police cant swim…why she didn’t jump in the sea?
I can’t see myself laughing at someone else’s downfall. It could be anyone of our family members. That is a part of her belief and yes it is illegal though other countries are considering legalizing it. Point is religion, beliefs are a peculiar thing and should not be something we mock.
Take the weed and leave the money!
Take the weed and left the money!
I don’t know when the police them going respond as quick as they do when they hear bout weed and drugs vs when they hear bout guns.
Can we get gun sniffer dogs not herb sniffer dogs?
To lol,
At least she want to take it and sing, but it have those who getting and doing the wrong things, and she isnt the only one maybe smoking weed. Them same big time ones doing it on a DL. Don’t hate cause somebody in your family doing it to.
me get catch with a pound of weed but we still gonna sow the seed cuz ganja iz all we need, politicians is all about greed so much pay cut me ah start to bleed yessi jah rastafari, I went to the Road Town ferry now they want to lock me up like febby merry now that is very scary but me no worry cuz its just a little herb, its just a little herb, one more time its just a little herb, HERB, HERB, HERB, HERB is the word, HERB, HERB, HERB, HERB is the word
Weed is from the earth. God put this here for me and you take advantage man, take advantage
~”I’m in love with Mary Jane. She’s my main thing. She makes me feel alright. She makes my heart sing. And when I’m feeling low, She comes as no surprise. Turns me on with her love. Takes me to paradise.”~
What you got on my 40, Homey?
I thought you had $200????
This the same fool on here a few weeks ago wanting the government to pay for her trip to sing? She should have invested the money in that not “herb”
Babylon low de herb
FREE THE WEED!
she got lyrics now boy
Much love and blessing to you Sis………I kno you will get out of this. Something about this does not sound right…….dem trying to lock up the peace makers and praise these Masonic deamons that running the country…….HAVE FAITH IN JAH AND KNOW THAT THIS IS THE DEVIL TESTING YOU…
John Todd, Masonic Council of Thirteen
“To you, Sovereign Instructors of Grade 33, we tell you: you have to repeat to the brothers of inferior grades that we worship only one God to whom we pray without superstition. It is we, Initiated in the Supreme Grade, that are to keep the real Masonic religion preserving pure the Lucifer doctrine”
Tell me it ain’t so!I thought people suppose to learn from their mistakes?All this hard work of practicing with musicians,getting songs together,getting music etc etc for the show this weekend is now going down the drain.You should know better if not for yourself do it for your kids. You were already told to STOP IT! and let people do their own work look now you get catch and I sure whoever send ya A$$ to collect going be liming this weekend while you in jail. SMH
Y U DONT SHUT YO a..
To Upset – you have the right name! What are you upset about? The fact that she can’t sell wha she had to you? or maybe you completed the first part of the mission and she aint complete here part cause she was caught? Listen to me, everybody will have something to say so post ya comments and keep it movin, now you shut ya A$$. Why don’t you give her work to do since what was done was so right!
Sister Joyce would not be a part of this weekend calypso show this weekend on VGF. From all indication she will be spending her EASTER up at BALO.I am sorry for you Sis but you should know better than that.
lol that’s a good one.
AYa Dont Read….She WOnt B Balo She’s On Bail…Winer U Is A Real Effing Hater……..Siter Joyce is a positive lady…atleast she ain waste their time nor her time…se kept it real n thas the sister joyce i kno….One love sister Joyce…
If she kept it real why didn’t she plead guilty then????!!!
You ain’t sorry for her. I can hear the glee in your voice. Why would she spend Easter at BALO when she would easily get bail? You need to stop rejoicing in other people’s downfall because you never just know!!!
No one should be sorry for her yes we all know, people dont just get into trouble we make choices. You know better then do beter you have no one to blame but your self for the bad choices which you make.
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