Accused phone thief claims he was trying to fund mother’s eye surgery

In a courtroom drama that unfolded in St James, Jamaica, Romaine Christie found himself at the center of a legal battle over an alleged theft of three mobile phones. Christie, who appeared before Parish Judge Natiesha Fairclough-Hylton on Wednesday, faced charges of simple larceny following an incident in September. According to court records, Christie entered a Montego Bay store, requested to inspect three Samsung phones, and then abruptly fled with the devices. The theft was promptly reported, leading to Christie’s arrest and subsequent charges. During the hearing, Christie’s father pleaded for leniency, vowing to compensate for the stolen items. Christie himself claimed that his actions were driven by a desire to fund his mother’s impending eye surgery. However, Judge Fairclough-Hylton expressed skepticism, noting that despite Christie’s claims, the surgery had not been paid for. Christie countered that the procedure was postponed due to his mother’s elevated blood pressure. The case was referred to mediation, where Christie agreed to reimburse the complainant. The judge granted bail set at $150,000 with up to three sureties and scheduled the next hearing for January 14, 2026.