Mount Alvernia kidnapping trio sentenced

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU: Three of the four persons accused of kidnapping a student from the Mount Alvernia Preparatory School were sentenced today in the St. James Circuit Court.

Twenty three -year-old cabinet-maker Jonathan Mitchell was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for child stealing, while 22-year-old barber Trevon Tomlinson received a two-year prison sentence on the same charge.

A 17-year-old co-accused was given three years’ probation.

The trio, along with 26-year-old counsellor Jenise Regisford, were charged with kidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to extort.

Regisford pleaded not guilty to the charges, while the three males later pleaded guilty to child stealing charges.

Regisford is to go on trial on December 4.

In recounting the facts of the case today lead prosecutor Jeremy Taylor told the court that Mitchell had masterminded the kidnapping to extort $4million from the child’s father, to whom he had previously been employed.

Mitchell and his employer had reportedly had a dispute after Mitchell sustained an injury at work for which he felt he did not receive full redress.

The three-year-old student was abducted from the St. James institution on May 3, 2011.

The child was taken the community of Baileston in Clarendon, where he was later found unharmed.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com