Leroy Samuel Ruiz pleads guilty to fishing without a license

Leroy Samuel Ruiz

Twenty-seven year old Ladyville fisherman, Leroy Samuel Ruiz is in plenty trouble with the law; this morning he pleaded guilty to fishing in the Glovers Reef Marine Reserve without a license. The repeat offender is hoping that the magistrate will fine, but not confine him for the offense.  Ruiz appeared before Magistrate Herbert Panton and pleaded guilty and this is when unpaid fines of one thousand dollars owed to the court came back to haunt him. Magistrate Panton was not amused and ordered him to pay the debt saying that he is contemplating sending him behind bars. Ruiz was given a few hours to pay up. According to Fisheries Personnel, on June seventeenth, Fisheries Officers Lindolfo Chicas and Gilford Martinez were on routine patrol on Glovers Reef, when they came about a white canoe being paddled by Ruiz who could not produce his license. The canoe, “Ubafu”, which means strength, was confiscated and the officers found twenty lobsters, a hook stick, a spear gun, a chipping hammer and a black pair of fins as well as a black mask and a paddle.