Jerry Alfred, 51, of Yampiece has been fined $500 for threatening a 13-year-old girl with a knife.
He was ordered to pay that fine in three months when he appeared in court last week.
If he fails to pay the fine he will spend one month in prison.
In court, Alfred pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and intimidation.
According to information revealed by Police Prosecutor David Andrew (Jr), the complainant, who lives at Eden Lane, Goodwill was doing an errand on August 13, when the defendant saw her walking up some steps.
Alfred pointed a knife to her face and asked if she was the one who had spoken to him the day before.
“See where I hold you, I feel like stabbing you,” Alfred told her.
The frightened child immediately went to her mother to report what took place.
The matter was then reported to the Roseau Police Station.
Police went in search of the defendant and was found in Yampiece. He was informed of the report made against him but he did not respond.
He was searched and a knife was found in his possession.
Alfred was cautioned and he responded, “Officer when she passed I had the knife but I did not tell her anything.”
He added, “I asked her if is she that tell me things yesterday and she said ‘no’ and I went up the steps.”
Alfred told the court that the knife found in his possession was made to make brooms and he denied intimidating the young lady.
“I pleaded guilty because I had the knife in my hands but I didn’t pull it on her,” he said. “More I try to stay away from problem, it always finding me.”
“You have no reason pulling a knife on a 13-year-old, intimidating her and threatening her,” Magistrate Bernard Pacquette told Alfred. “It clearly shows you are not remorseful…have respect for people’s children.”
On the charge of intimidation he was put on a bond for one year in the sum of $500. If he gets into trouble with the law or commits any offense within that year he will be fined $500.
In 2013, Alfred was fined $2,000 for stealing mangoes.
True, he needed to be charged more money than that. The child needed to be compensated. The law charges more for theft, and drugs. We Dominicans should come together to make those concerned amend that law. Because when someone threatens another person, it is not a nice thing at all. I notice that some policemen don’t take threats seriously. I made a report of a threat one day and the police asked me, if the person touch me. So I guess they want the crime to take place before they take it seriously. What does it mean to PROTECT and SERVE?
Selective law enforcement is all I can say for DA. There are so many crimes and criminals that go unprosecuted. And the court makes money. No restitution is paid to the victim. Not much justice here.
Throw his in jail!. What does a grown 53 year old man have to say to a 13 year old?
taking people to court in dominica profits the gov’t not the victims.if this man was found guilty why should the court get more at all times and not the victims…this child might be traumatized all her life and think of people specially men in a negative manner,normally if this is the case at her age she might need psycological help ,why should the parents take cash from their pockets to pay ,the criminal should fund this money to take care of the child…not the gov’t again…enough is enough this law needs a real turn over…
That can be handled in a civil law suit. In the meanwhile the magistrates, judges, court clerks, secretaries, police etc. have to be paid salaries and other cost such as overheads like electricity, water, building maintenance etc have to be taken care of!
Is she entitled to sue for pain and suffering? DNO please tell us if you can find some means to respond to answers questions people are asking. I’m sure this would give you more credit
That man should be sent to prison. Imagine putting a knife in the child’s face and threatening her. Shame on him! He has a severe problem and has no respect for children; not anyone for that matter. He should be sent for psychiatric assessment.
So he says trouble follows him. The devil in him made him commit those crimes, eh? This is his fault. If he can do this to a child, what would he not do to an adult?
The magistrate should make him write a letter of apology to the child and her mother. If he cannot write, he should be told to face them in Court and apologize to them.
I view this man as a dangerous person. Paying a fine is insufficient. He used a dangerous weapon in the child’s face, one it appears he carries around with him. He should be charged for that. I would not want to know him or to be his neighbor.
That little amount of money is insufficient to prevent him from repeating his evil act. I hate to think what he might fatally do to a child or adult in the future.
A man like him should be incarcerated for at least one year. Hopefully, he will learn a lesson and be rehabilitated.
What is a grown man doing threatening a child.He should be jailed.Dominica needs to rearrange it laws.
that money should go the the little girl not to the court.
oops she forget to tell him thanks for not wasting the courts time…
These laws need changing……500 dollar fine??….probably he should have bitten her and pay that same amount in fines or slice her face…….somthing need to be done…….u steal a watch and u get a year in prison but you can threaten someone with a weapon and physically hurt them and u get a fine…..oh lord