Deacon finally gets bail
September 26, 2006
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They were formerly charged with carnal abuse and other sexual offences, but those charges were withdrawn on Friday and the case transferred to the Home Circuit Court for them to be tried for trafficking in persons.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....
Author: Barbara Gayle
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
