Latest update February 13th, 2025 4:37 PM
Latest News
- Brutus withdraws second lawsuit filed against the state
- GPHC fires senior doctor over stillbirth
- Despite not paying taxes, Exxon boss says profit sharing and royalty is same as giving Guyana tax
- ExxonMobil makes application for 8th oil project
- After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’
‘Cockroach scam’ woman charged with demanding money with menace
Melissa Ann DeGrace at court yesterday
Melissa Ann DeGrace, 28, was yesterday slapped with simple larceny and demanding money with menace charges after she appeared before (ag) Chief Magistrate, Priya Beharry yesterday at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
It is alleged that on December 29, last, Melissa Ann DeGrace stole $3,500 and US$50 from John Rodrigues.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the simple larceny charge.
Police Prosecutor Stephen Telford told the court that around 18: 30 hrs on December 29, the defendant paid Rodrigues a visit in his room at the “Sleep In Hotel” located on Church Street.
The prosecutor said that DeGrace then asked the plaintiff for a drink. As he left her presence to go to his fridge to get her something to drink, the woman took the cash and left the room.
Upon his return, Rodrigues saw that Melissa had left the room abruptly and began searching the room for his articles and noticed the money was missing.
The woman told Magistrate Beharry that she is self-employed and would “buy and sell goods”.
Also, it is alleged that on January 3, 2011 at the New Thriving Restaurant, DeGrace demanded $100,000 from the manager, John, with intent to steal the said money by threatening to publish in the media that a cockroach was in her food.
Attorney at Law, Adrian Thompson, in his bail application, stated that his client resides at Lot 872 “A” Field Sophia and has three children, the youngest being three months old.
Thompson told Magistrate Beharry that the defendant was previously employed at “Rockies’ Hotel” and is now unable to work because she has a little baby to care for. He told the court that his client is not a flight risk and asked that bail be set in a reasonable sum.
The Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $25,000 for the simple larceny charge and $100,000 bail for the charge of demanding money with menace.
Thompson then asked Magistrate Beharry to reduce the bail for the charge of demanding money with menace as he explained that no money was handed over to his client in the New Thriving matter and that his client would not be able to afford bail since she is currently unemployed.
With this in consideration, Magistrate Beharry set bail in the sum of $25,000 for the simple larceny charge and reduced the bail to $75,000 for the other charge. Melissa DeGrace is scheduled to make her next court appearance on January 27.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
An Open Letter to the election observer missions
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-Later this year, you will arrive in Guyana as protectors of the integrity of our democracy.... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
