By Bianca Symonette
The Bahama Journal
April 21, 2006
http://www.jonesbahamas.com/?c=45&a=8538
Just two weeks after delivering a powerful sermon calling for Bahamians to partner with authorities to protect the nation's children from abuse, Baptist Bishop Earl Randolph Fraser, better known as E. Randy Fraser, was charged in court on Thursday with sexual intercourse with a dependant.
It is alleged that Bishop Fraser, head pastor at Pilgrim Baptist Temple on St. James Road, off Kemp Road, had sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old female.
Bishop Fraser was considered a respected member of the Kemp Road community and he is also a member of the board of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and the National Child Protection Council.
 |
| Baptist Bishop Randy Fraser, right, pleaded not guilty in court yesterday in relation to an unlawful sex charge. (Photo by Timothy Clarke) |
He stands accused of abusing his trust between July 2005 and February 2006 by having sexual intercourse with the minor.
After reading the charge, Magistrate Roger Gomez asked Bishop Fraser which court he would prefer the matter to be heard in, and after a few minutes of consulting with his attorney, Wellington Orlando, Bishop Fraser said he wished it be heard in a magistrate's court.
Fraser then pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted a $10,000 bail with one surety. His case was adjourned to May 11 and is expected to resume in court number five.
Mr. Orlando requested that his client be released on his own recognizance until someone signed his bail.
Magistrate Gomez granted the request and told Bishop Fraser that he had until 10am today to return to court with his surety to sign the paper work.
On the outside of the court a small group of persons had gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of the bishop's face. However, police shielded his face as they led him into the court.
As photographers attempted to get photographs of the accused, they were told by officers in plain clothes to remove themselves from the doorway of the courtroom. Police then quickly formed a human shield around the bishop to make it difficult for anyone to take pictures.
Officers then let the bishop out through a door on the opposite side of the court, thereby avoiding onlookers, many of whom never saw when he exited.
One lady shouted that the bishop is "Houdini", while others said he was receiving preferential treatment.
The man who had driven Bishop Fraser to the court responded to the woman who was surrounded by other rowdy bystanders.
As the man attempted to defend the bishop the crowd ran behind him throwing jeers.
The scene nearly erupted into a fight after a man who appeared to be in his early 20's attempted to pull the man who was defending the bishop out of his vehicle.
Police then ran over to the crowd to break up the ruckus. The man then sped off in his car.
By this time the bishop had already been secretly guided out the courtroom through the main entrance on East Street.
As a member of the National Child Protection Council, Bishop Fraser hosted a service on April 6 at his church to mark the opening of Child Protection Month.
In his sermon, Bishop Fraser said, "We believe that the children are our precious gems. We are encouraging the children of this country to speak up if anybody were to do anything to [them] that makes [them] feel uncomfortable, but there are also some adults [who] children may not be able to trust. So we are encouraging them to find someone [who] they can trust."
Several pastors were in the courtroom showing support yesterday. Among them were Arnold Josey and pastor of Agape Baptist Church Helen McPhee.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.