Jan 30, 2010 0
Mother Gets Prison Sentence For Negligence; Teen Daughters Caught At Dance
47-year-old Icylin Jones was yesterday sentenced to nine months’ hard labour for breaching the Child Care and Protection Act.
It was revealed in court that in March 2009, Jones had received two years’ probation, after her two daughters (who are 13 and 14 years old respectively), were caught out at a dance in Portmore, St. Catherine.
She was told at the time, that she should report to the probation department and abide by its recommendations. However, earlier this month, the children were again held by the police in Portmore. An investigation led to Jones being arrested and charged with negligence.
Before handing down the sentence, the resident magistrate stated that Jones showed no remorse and was disrespectful to the court, and that her breach of a prior probation order validated a custodial sentence.
The resident magistrate also informed the accused that her social-enquiry report indicated that her children were virtually living on the streets, and that Jones put her boyfriend ahead of her kids.
The court also ordered that the children remain in state care, and appear in the Children’s Court on February 24.