Two male cross-dressers created quite a commotion in the San Fernando Magistrates Court, yesterday, when they appeared dressed like women on charges of loitering.
Nicholas Paul, who said he preferred to be called Nikki when he was dressed in female attire, and Keron Lewis, were both the objects of stares and laughter when they were escorted in handcuffs to the court.
Police officers were also seen taking photos of the men with their cellphones. Paul, 32, of San Fernando, and Lewis, 25, a hairdresser of Aripero and La Brea, were kept separate from the other prisoners as a safety precaution.
Paul was dressed in a red top, short black dress and black wig, while Lewis was wearing a skin-tight mini black dress and a long burgundy and black wig. They both appeared before Magistrate Natalie Diop.
They were arrested at San Fernando Street, San Fernando, on Thursday night at the same time, but they were charged separately.
The magistrate asked both Paul and Lewis how they wished to be addressed, whether as "herself" or "himself." Paul said he preferred to be addressed as Nikki when he was dressed "like this," but Lewis said: "I am a man." Both pleaded guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor Sgt Chanardath Jhilmit said Paul and Lewis, along with another person, were seen by WPC Keisha Sealy, who was on mobile patrol duty, standing in a poorly lit area.
When WPC Keisha Sealy first approached them around 9 pm and inquired what they were doing there, Paul and Lewis said: "Officer, we waiting for a taxi."
When the officer returned around 10 pm they were still there.
Paul said: "I waiting for my friends," while Lewis said: "I waiting for my boyfriend."
When the officer returned a third time around 10.47 pm, the accused were still there. Paul's excuse was: "I waiting for my house keys," while Lewis said: "I waiting for driver."
Paul admitted the facts, but Lewis disputed them. However, Lewis said he wanted to maintain his guilty plea because he did not want to "carry it on."
The magistrate then explained that she had no choice but to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf. Lewis said he lived at Industry Lane, La Brea, but stayed with his boyfriend at Aripero. Lewis said it was the first time he was arrested. The magistrate placed him on $500 own bail to return to court on May 29. Paul, who was arrested on a previous occasion on a similar charge, said he worked as a housekeeper, but had been unemployed for about two months.
He was fined $100. Paul has five days to pay the money or serve ten days in jail.