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Fisherman To Jail For Outstanding Fines
posted (January 24, 2018)
All the time on the news we report on fishermen who have been caught with out of season or undersized conch and lobster. And, invariably they are made to pay a fine and go about their business. But, tonight, one of them is in jail - and that's because he got fined today - but already had a large pending fine which he hadn't paid.

Trial Farm resident, 37-year-old Samir Dario Rodriguez is the third Fisherman in the history of the court record to go to jail on Fisheries offenses.

Rodriguez already owed the court $13,260 dollars and was today read two more Fisheries offenses when he appeared before Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser.

On December 21, 2017 he was found in possession of 61 undersized conch and 35 undersized lobster. He wasted no time and pleaded guilty. But he still owed the court for matters stemming from back to 2013 and 2016. So, Chief Magistrate, Sharon Fraser refrained from imposing another fine and sentenced him to 2 -6 months prison terms to run consecutively, meaning he will have to serve a total of one year for these latest offenses.

He was also slapped with more fines as additional penalty for both offenses. If he falls short of payment he will spend an additional 6 weeks imprisonment.

And, if Rodriguez is unable to pay his old fine of $13,260.00 will have to serve 16 months along with the 12 months given today.

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