Cops Probe Claim That ... 73-Y-O Deacon Fondles Child at Church

By Rasbert Turner
Jamaica Star
February 21, 2012

http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20120220/news/news1.html

Police yesterday charged a 73-year-old deacon with breaches of the Child Care and Protection Act after he was accused of having sex with an 11-year-old girl at the church where they both attend.

The senior, who had been under investigations following an incident last December, is alleged to have attempted to bribe the child with sweets and $50 for her to keep quiet about the alleged assault.

He has been charged with sexually grooming a child, sexually touching a child and having sex with a person under the age of 16.

Police said the senior church member was charged following an investigation by detectives at the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse.

Information reaching THE STAR is that in December the complainant was at the church when she went to a lunch room at the rear of the premises, where the high-ranking church member was said to have fondled her.

After the illegal act, he reportedly gave the child a few sweets and $50 to keep it a secret.

The victim, however, related her ordeal to a family member. A subsequent report was made to the police and an investigation revealed she had also been assaulted on three previous occasions..

The deacon is scheduled to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, the police said.