Tenants’ power had been disconnected by CUC
James Adrian Nixon, 50, was ordered on Wednesday to perform 120 hours of community service after pleading guilty to dishonestly using electricity without authority.
The maximum penalty for this offense, referred to in the Penal Code as abstracting electricity, is a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment for two years.
Crown counsel Marilyn Brandt said an employee from Caribbean Utilities Company attended a George Town residence on Dec. 12, 2013, to disconnect electricity due to non-payment.
On December 19, a CUC employee was informed that electricity was seen at that premises. A meter reader noticed a black-coated copper wire was connected to serve as a “bridge” or “jumper” that allowed electricity into the home without being reflected on the meter. The effect was that the premises got an unmetered supply of electricity.
Nixon, as the owner of the premises, was contacted and made admissions.
Defense attorney John Furniss explained that the premises was occupied by tenants and the rent they paid included power. Also, among the tenants were a child of his and the child’s mother.
“The reason he did it is not an excuse, but he felt he was acting responsibly toward his tenants and his family,” Mr. Furniss explained.
Nixon had not paid the CUC bill previously because he had been having problems with employment.
Since the incident, he has been given a new account and is presently paying the old bill in installments.
The attorney agreed that the court should send a message that people can’t reconnect power on their own to avoid paying a CUC bill.
Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn said Nixon’s offense was akin to theft, as it was the dishonest taking of services he was not entitled to. There are many people currently and in the past who have been in difficult financial circumstances but they did not respond as Nixon did.
She said he and others must understand that this is not a “victim-less” crime or a crime against a corporation. Loss to the company will result in an increased charge to people who do pay their bill, so the larger community pays the price. The more people who commit this offense, the greater the impact on others, she indicated.
In this instance, Nixon had been charged for only one day’s dishonest use of electricity. Had the time been longer, the penalty would have been higher, the magistrate told him. In all the circumstances, she was satisfied that 120 hours of unpaid work in the community was an appropriate sentence.
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