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by pltm
(PLTM) - Dahiana De La Cruz-Donovan was ordered to pay a fine of $1,250 after she was found guilty of handling stolen items, namely a television set, which she claims she received from her boyfriend as a gift.
The accused, who is a national of the Dominican Republic, made an appearance before the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, October 27, where Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards handed down a guilty verdict following the trial over the 2013 incident.
De La Cruz-Donovan was ordered to pay $500 for the charge of handling stolen goods, in addition to $750 to compensate Maria's By The Sea, where the set was stolen. She was given until November 30 to pay both fines or serve 30 days in prison.
According to court records, during the trial which commenced in June of last year, the woman claimed that while speaking to her boyfriend at the time, Doyle Guishard, she mentioned that she wanted a television to entertain her children, who were due to visit her in the Territory. Guishard allegedly promised to buy the set for her.
Sometime after the promise, she noted that Guishard brought the television, a Samsung 32-inch LED flat screen, only to be visited by police officers three days after on June 13th 2013 at her Long Look residence.
Upon seeing officers at her front door, she immediately questioned Guishard, inquiring what he had done, to which he allegedly responded by putting his hand over her mouth, took her to the bathroom, told her to be quiet and not open the door.
She noted that after the police officers left her premises, Guishard left the apartment and she followed by immediately throwing out his stuff, adding that she gave the television to the landlord.
The court heard that her reaction was out of her being scared.
Following the officers return to her apartment, the television was found under a staircase near the entrance of the apartment, along with a remote.
The court stated that it had difficulty believing the defendant’s testimony, while highlighting various instances deemed as inconsistencies.
“As soon as you saw police officers at your door, you asked Mr. Guishard what did he do. That tells the court that you must have been aware that he was doing things. Police showing up at your door should not cause you to ask him what he did. They could’ve been lost, or coming to ask a question," the Magistrate said.
The court also highlighted, “Doyle covers your mouth, took you to the bathroom and told you to be quiet and you didn’t struggle. You would think if she wanted nothing to do with him and on suspicion of police coming for him, she would have went to the door and opened. Making it worse, you gave the TV to the landlord to hide.”
Following sentencing, De La Cruz-Donovan apologized to the court, adding that she will never accept another gift from anyone, unless proof of receipt is shown.
It was the crown's case that on May 31, 2013, a security guard stationed at Maria's By The Sea noticed a male intruder on the premises. After questioning the male, who was noted to be Guishard, he (Guishard) assured the guard that he did not remove anything from the property, then left.
Following an inventory by staff of the establishment, it was discovered that two flat screen televisions were missing from the storeroom.
It was as a result of this information police visited the residence of De La Cruz-Donovan, where Guishard frequented. They conducted a search and found a set with the exact serial number on file by the establishment.
While being questioned by Police Officers, De La Cruz-Donovan stated that the television was gifted to her by her boyfriend.
During the trial, she told the court that she had no reason to believe her boyfriend had stolen the television, as he had a good job and it was usual of him to give her things.
She also told the court that she had given the item to her landlord to put away after she became scared following the officers' visit.
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