Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Former church deacon, 46-year-old Donovan Jones, was yesterday granted bail in the sum of $400,000 with sureties, after being in custody since July 6 in connection with the sexual molestation of a 14-year-old girl.

One of the conditions of his bail is that he must report to the Half-Way Tree police station from Mondays to Fridays. He is also not to make contact with the witnesses in the case.

"My decision cannot be based on emotions but must be based on legal principles," Mrs. Justice Marva McIntosh said as she outlined her reasons for granting bail.

Jones who is charged jointly with three male teenagers with trafficking in persons, is to return to the Home Circuit Court on October 5.

The other three accused, including 18-year-old James Rodgers were each offered bail when they appeared in the Home Circuit Court on Friday.

They were formerly charged with carnal abuse and other sexual offences, but those charges were withdrawn on Friday and the case transferred to the Home Circuit Court for them to be tried for trafficking in persons. The two juveniles had earlier pleaded guilty in the RM Court to several counts of indecent assault.

Attorney-at-law Paul Beswick who represents the ex-deacon of the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge at Dayton Avenue, Kingston 10, made the bail application last week Friday and the judge put off her decision until yesterday.

The judge, in referring to the Bail Act, said that the accused was not convicted of any criminal offence. She said "I must apply the relevant principles and the relevant considerations when determining whether bail ought to be granted."

It is being alleged that on April 25, 26, 27 and 28 and on May 1, the 14-year-old schoolgirl was sexually assaulted in a van driven by Jones and the incidents video-recorded. They are charged under section 10 of the Child Care and Protection Act which prohibits the sale or trafficking of children. A person who is convicted under that section is liable to a fine or to imprisonment with hard labour for a term not exceeding 10 years or to both fine and imprisonment.