BY Tashieka Mair, Star Writer

western bureau

A Westmoreland man was sentenced to three months in prison and fined $37,200 for drug-related charges in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court on Thursday.

Thirty-eight-year-old Easton Stone of Big Bridge entered a guilty plea to possession, dealing and attempting to export ganja.

Attorney-at-law Natalie Messado told the RM that Stone suffers from a thyroid problem that threatens the aspiring singer's voice box, and has financial difficulties brought on by his medical condition and his need to maintain his five small children.

Messado asked RM Winsome Henry that he be given the opportunity to undergo radiotherapy session scheduled for next month.

According to the lawyer, the weight of the drug he had was not as alarming as many other cases that have come before the court and asked for a non-custodial sentence.

However, the RM contended that too many persons use financial crisis and medical conditions as excuses to carry out illegal activities of this nature.

"This has to stop," she said. "I have to send a message to others who think they can just try to smuggle drugs out of Jamaica."

Stone was fined $7,200 for possession and $30,000 for attempting to export. If the fines are not paid he will serve an additional three months incarcerated.

Facts are that on February 6 he checked in on an Air Jamaica flight to Curacao. He was stopped and searched at the boarding gate, during which a parcel of ganja weighing a half of a pound was found in one foot of his shoes.

His luggage was also searched and another parcel of ganja weighing four pounds was discovered. Under caution he said to the police, "boss do something fi mi nuh, ah my tings".