Three men who were charged jointly for stealing a cellular phone worth $34,000 appeared before the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Bernard Sam, 18, of Kitty, Pascal Smith, 21, of 35 Campbellville and a 17-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge of larceny from the person when it was read to them by Principal Magistrate Melissa Robertson-Ogle.

It is alleged that on May 9 the trio stole one cellular phone from Mennon Invery. According to Invery, he was standing in front of his friend’s house and was about to answer his phone when Sam snatched it from him. Sam, he said, then escaped in a vehicle with the other two accused.

Invery, however,  refused to give evidence in the matter. Smith and the teenager were required to pay a total court cost of $5,000.

Sam was further charged with two counts of escaping from lawful custody. He pleaded not guilty to both counts.

It is alleged that on March 29 and April 16, being in lawful custody on a criminal charge Sam escaped from custody.

According to reports, on the first occasion Sam who was in custody on a simple larceny charge picked the lock and escaped from the police station.  He was rearrested and he again escaped, this time through the roof.

He was remanded to prison and the matter will continue on May 21 in Court Four.