James Gibson escapes confinement for drug trafficking conviction

James Gibson

The mandatory jail term for drug trafficking conviction is usually a fine along with confinement. But today, forty-eight year old James Gibson escaped the full weight of the law because he had no previous conviction and he begged for the court’s leniency given the circumstances of his life. Last May in the village of Boston, he was in the company of two men when the group was stopped by the police. Gibson was carrying a knapsack containing over a pound of cannabis for which he was one charged.  In mitigation plea this afternoon, Gibson told the court that when he went to jail back in 2013, his life and family were torn apart.  The day after he was imprisoned, his common-law wife died from cancer dramatically changing the life of his five children.  One of his daughters ran away and the other siblings were to be placed in foster care and the experience of jail was not one he wants to relive. He also told the court that he needs to be with his children. Gibson appeared before Senior Magistrate, Sharon Frazer; he was fined ten thousand dollars which he must pay by April thirtieth.