‘Prison bird’ breaks judge’s heart

Senior Parish Judge Lori-Anne Cole-Montaque said she is experiencing "heartbreak", following the admission of guilt from Donovan Butler, a 72-year-old man who promised her that he would not return to the courts after she sentenced him to two years' imprisonment.

"You and I have a little relationship no, forgive me for expressing it in that way, but you have come before me already. But you know what guides expectations in relationships? It is not words, but patterns. You have breached my trust; you have broken my judicial heart. This is like a heartbreak, and I don't know how to get over it. How can I trust you? The damage is so bad, I think it is irreparable. I am so heartbroken," the senior jurist lamented.

Butler was first acquainted with the senior jurist, who sentenced him in 2019. She again sentenced him for larceny in 2022. He vowed not to return before her or to be caught in wrongdoings. However, Butler appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on January 19 before Judge Cole-Montaque to answer to a charge of larceny by trick. He made his second appearance for the month on Monday to answer for two new counts of larceny by trick.

On the first count, the complainant reported that on October 12, 2023, she was approached by Butler who told her that his BMW motor vehicle was stolen with his licensed firearm inside. Butler told her that he needed money to have the vehicle and firearm returned. The complainant gave Butler $19,000, after being promised that the funds would be returned to her.

On the second count, prosecutors contend that on October 29, Butler approached a man and gave him the same story. Butler told the complainant that he needed $15,000 for transportation. Butler was assisted with the monies and asked the complainant to lend him his Samsung cell phone to make a call. However, Butler did not return the phone, or the money.

"You start this new year with three new cases," Cole-Montaque said, noting the other case before the court, in which Butler conned a woman of $30,000, pretending to be a medical doctor who needed help.

"I don't know what you can ever say to me to repair [the relationship], this is like a bad heartache you know. It's hot, that's all I can say," the senior judge added.

"I am so uncomfortable being before you. I am prepared for a change," the repeat offender asserted. Butler was remanded until March 7 when he is to be sentenced. He was made the subject of a fingerprint order.