Chocolate thieves sent to Youth Apprenticeship Program

Anthony Ortiz

AARON HUMES Reporting: Chief Magistrate Ann-Marie Smith has ordered 30-year-old Anthony Ortiz and a 17 year old male minor who cannot be named for legal reasons to enter the Youth Apprenticeship Program managed by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Earlier this week, both men pleaded guilty to theft of fifteen dollars’ worth of M&M chocolates and Snickers bars from the Puma Gas Station on Freetown Road on January 18 around 10:15 a.m.

According to the accused, they were hungry, and out of money to buy the items, so they decided to steal them.

The manager was told of what happened by his employees but waited until February 6 to report it to police.

While spared prison time, in the six-month program coordinated by Diane Finnegan they will be assigned a job as apprentices for which they receive a stipend of $100, from which deductions can be made for lateness, unexplained sickness or disobedience or absence.

The Chief Magistrate warned that they will be monitored and if they fail to meet the conditions of the program they would serve the default term of six months in prison.

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