Daraine Luton and Keisha Hill, Gleaner ReportersRESIDENT MAGISTRATE Judith Pusey has ordered social enquiry reports for two of the four persons implicated in the sexual assault of a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
Shamar Morgan, 18, and a 15-year-old boy, both pleaded guilty to four charges of indecent assault and were granted bail in the sum of $100,000 when they appeared in the the Half-Way Tree Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday.
Judge Pusey has also ordered that the 46-year-old former deacon of the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge, Donovan Jones, and 18-year-old James Rodgers remain in custody until Tuesday, July 25.
Morgan and the minor will return to court on September 8 for sentencing, at which time the social enquiry reports will be tendered.
The boys, whose parents have been accepted as surety, face up to three years behind bars on each count.
As condition of bail, they have been ordered to surrender their travel documents and to stay away from the complainant, her mother and residence. They must report to the Half-Way Tree Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
CHARGES ADDED
Meanwhile, the prosecution has added carnal abuse, and aiding and abetting carnal abuse charges to the list of charges being faced by Jones and Rodgers, a Haitian/ American citizen.
Carnal abuse charges were also laid against Morgan and the minor, but were later withdrawn along with intent to rape and assault occasioning bodily harm charges.
Yesterday, Paul Beswick, attorney-at-law representing Jones and Rodgers, attempted to make bail application on their behalf, but Judge Pusey refused to entertain.
Jones also faces nine counts of indecent assault, three counts of assault with intent to rape, one count of cruelty to a child, one count of conspiracy to commit indecent assault and one count of aiding and abetting indecent assault.
Rodgers is charged with three counts of indecent assault, three counts of assault with intent to rape, and aiding and abetting
indecent assault. The case is being held in camera (outside the public view).
Henrick Lawson, who is prosecuting the case for the Crown, said the judge's refusal to entertain the bail application was due to the fact that Mr. Beswick had started the application before another judge.
Last Wednesday, Resident Magistrate Georginia Fraser denied the four accused bail. According to Mr. Lawson, Judge Pusey felt it was best for Judge Fraser to continue hearing bail application for
both men.
Jones and Rodgers, whose grandmother is the founder for the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge, have been in police custody since
July 5.
