Teen to spend Christmas in lock-up for larceny

The festivities of this year's Yuletide season will miss 19-year-old Dwight McCarthy, as he was remanded in custody until next January, having pleaded guilty to larceny from the person.

It was shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday that McCarthy grabbed the purse of a complainant while she was in a wholesale in downtown Kingston. He was seen on surveillance footage. He was apprehended by the police days later. Three knives were found in his possession as well as $13,000 cash. McCarthy could not provide a satisfactory explanation to the police how he got the money.

McCarthy, the court heard, provided a contact number for his father, but when the number was called, a woman answered and said she does not know the defendant.

"So he sent the police on a wild goose chase," Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque said.

The teen pleaded guilty to larceny from the person and being in possession of an offensive weapon.

"Look how you mess up your Christmas. You'll be sentenced in the new year," the senior jurist said.

McCarthy was remanded in custody until January 19, 2024 when he is to be sentenced.