Adult and four minors arraigned on Burglary charges

An eighteen year old and four minors were arraigned on robbery charges this afternoon in Magistrate’s Court. A seventeen year old, two sixteen year olds, a thirteen year old and eighteen year old Godfrey Ramsey all pleaded not guilty and were offered bail of five thousand dollars each on the condition that they do not interfere with the complainant or any potential witnesses. Audrey Matura, attorney for the thirteen year old submitted that the rights of the minors had been violated because they were arrested and charged in the absence of their parents and that the arresting officer had violated the Judges Rules. Magistrate Tracy Sosa disagreed, however, ruling that there was no expressed requirement that parents of minors have to be present when charges are levied and that it was sufficient that a Community Rehabilitation Officer was there. The incident in question occurred just before midnight on Monday. According to thirty year old Ayans Miranda, he was walking on Youth for the Future Drive towards Bel-China Bridge when five young men riding on bicycles accosted him. Miranda claims that one of the youths punched him in the mouth causing him to fall to the ground, at which time another youth kicked him while the other stole thirty dollars from his pants pocket. The victim says shortly after the robbers rode away, police on mobile patrol appeared and he reported the incident. The patrol apprehended the youths not long afterwards.