Construction worker on $150,000 bail over house break-in

Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson on Tuesday placed a construction worker on bail in the sum of $150,000 when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court for allegedly breaking and entering the home of a woman and stealing over $400,000 worth in items.

Michael Patoir pleaded not guilty to the charge of break and enter and larceny.

It is alleged that on the morning of April 17, he broke and entered the home of Dawn Moore and stole a laptop computer, a DVD player, a wristwatch, three gold earrings, a gold chain and several other items, valued at $423,000.

The charge had first alleged that the incident took place on April 6, but Patoir’s lawyer Ronald Burch-Smith stated that his client had a solid alibi since he was at a party with two other friends who could attest to this.

However, when Moore told the court that the incident really occurred on April 17, the case file was amended after the prosecution confirmed that Moore’s statements had April 17. The lawyer then applied for reasonable bail for his client.

The prosecution made no objections to bail but asked that it be granted in a substantial amount.

The magistrate then transferred the case to Court Two for July 16.