Young Man Gets 18 Months’ Probation For Alleged Threats To Kill Police & Conspiracy To Supply Ganja. Judged Cited Mental Health Reasons For Probation Order & Did Not Record A Conviction
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By Alric Lindsay
Scott Garrett Butler was given an 18-month probation order by Magistrate Gunn today, April 15, 2024, for alleged threats to kill police and conspiracy to supply ganja. While he was initially charged with conspiracy to supply a controlled drug, conspiracy to possess firearms and possession of an unlicensed firearm (ammunition), those charges appear to have been withdrawn as they were not mentioned in the Summary Court today.
Background
According to the summary of facts provided by counsel from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, officers attended Butler’s residence on Saturday, May 28, 2022. They arrested him under suspicion of causing fear and for the use of an IT service to abuse, annoy or harass concerning WhatsApp messages received by the then Commissioner. The contents of these messages were viewed and considered disturbing.
Upon arrest, officers seized an iPad, an iPhone 12 and a laptop. Butler was later released on bail.
When the phone was examined, the police noted that, within the messages and communications, were a number of photographs of ganja and bullets/ammunition, as well as explicit threats to kill police made by Butler. The messages also illustrated attempts at orchestrating the sale of drugs.
The threatening messages the defendant sent via WhatsApp stated he would kill “all police” and that he would “put a bullet in a police head real quick”.
Butler was subsequently re-arrested on June 18, 2022.
He was transported to the Cayman Islands Detention Centre, where he was cautioned for an interview. The interview was subsequently vacated due to Butler’s alleged medical complications.
On a further date, Butler allegedly refused to be interviewed, maintaining his position that he needed medical attention.
Sentencing
During sentencing today, Magistrate Gunn said the following about alleged threats to the police:
The other charge that is making threats to kill is also serious. Here… the threat was made to a civilian about the police and there is no evidence… that you ever intended for the threat to come to the attention of the police. As we know, the defence was only uncovered when your phone was analysed.
She added:
You were swiftly arrested and I cannot see how this particular threat would have caused widespread concern for the RCIPS for any significant given their swift actions.
She continued:
It is clear from the medical reports on file that you have a complex mental health issues. It is evident from the text messages around the relevant times of these two relevant texts that you were in a mental health process and this is having a crisis and then maybe one call itself many people think people would were using drugs which significantly activated your situation.
She explained that the evidence of a conversation about Butler being an alleged gang leader in the US was also linked to his mental health.
She concluded that Butler would not have committed the offences had he not been unwell. Therefore, she did not record a conviction against Butler.
Noting that Butler is a man of good character, Magistrate Gunn delivered her ruling as follows:
- Butler must do 18 months’ probation
- Conditions of probation are as follows:
- Butler must keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
- He must abstain from consuming both drugs and alcohol.
- He must submit to random drug testing and alcohol testing.
- He must register with the Department of Counselling Services within 30 days and complete such programmes as they recommend.
- He must complete 120 hours of community service within 12 months.
