On May 26, 2011, police searched a car on Ebony Street, and they found Valencia in the passenger seat and Douglas Gill driving.

Police say that they found 3.3 ounces of marijuana under the passenger's seat, and 0.1 ounces of crack cocaine in another section of the vehicle. Both Gill and Valencia were charged with two counts of drug trafficking.

In the trial yesterday, the prosecution called the arresting officer to testify where exactly the drugs were found.

When the prosecutor closed his case, Gill's attorney, Ellis Arnold, made a no-case submission saying that the prosecutor failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Gill had any knowledge that the drugs were in the vehicle.

Chief Magistrate Anne Marie Smith upheld the submission and acquitted Gill of both drug trafficking charges. She did note that although it is his vehicle, the cannabis was found under Valencia's seat.

When it was his chance to defend himself, Valencia, who was unrepresented, chose to remain silent. Because he gave no evidence to contradict that he knew about the drugs, Chief Magistrate Smith found him guilty of drug trafficking for the cannabis.

She reprimanded him for the crack cocaine and discharged him on that count.

For the conviction on the first count, Chief Magistrate Smith sentenced him to pay $10,000, but he had to pay $3,000 in cash forthwith.

Because he couldn't pay, he was sent to prison, and he will remain there until he can do so.