Man avoids jail for keeping lost debit card

A 28-year-old man was made the subject of a probation order, after he confessed to finding a debit card and not handing it over to the police.

Cevon Gray pleaded guilty to larceny by finding on Wednesday when he made his first appearance at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

"Why you didn't hand it [debit card] over to the police?" Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque probed.

"My intention was to hand it over to the police but I was scared because them pull down on us with guns," Gray explained.

Prosecutors contend that police were on patrol at the Harbour View Shopping Centre when they saw a group of men, including Gray, standing at the automated teller machine. Gray, according to police reports, was seen picking up a debit card from the ground and had it in his hand. Upon the approach of the lawmen, Gray pushed the debit card in his pocket.

Following his guilty plea, the senior jurist made him the subject of a probation order for a year. Gray was also charged with being in possession of an access device; however, prosecutors withdrew that charge.