Marigot man to be sentenced for unlawful sexual connection; attorney pleads for suspended sentence

The fate of a Marigot man, Paul Guiste, is in the hands of High Court Judge, Justice Wynante Adrien-Roberts, who will hand down her sentence to him today for the offense of Unlawful Sexual Connection (USC) and indecent assault.

In 2018, Guiste, who was 55-years at the time, committed sexual acts against an 18-year-old girl in Marigot.

Guiste drove the young adult to an isolated area, offered her $40.00 for sexual favours which she refused but he forcefully performed oral sex on her.

He then attempted to initiate intercourse without her consent but stopped after the victim pleaded with him.

During his plea in mitigation to the court, the attorney for the defendant, Wayne Norde, pleaded with the court to impose a non-custodial sentence.

While admitting that some of the aggravating factors which go against his client are the breach of trust and the age disparity between Guiste and the victim, Norde pointed to his client’s level of remorse and the father of eleven’s financial commitment to his family.

“There are no winners,” Norde told the court. “There cannot be winners in such matters.”

The attorney urged the Judge to give benefits to Guiste for exercising “great restraint” as he did not have sexual intercourse with the young adult.

He added that his client had no previous convictions for sex-related offenses, he was remorseful for his actions, and was willing to apologize to the Virtual Complaint (VC) in open court as attempts by Guiste to apologize in person were not accepted by the victim and her mother.

The defense attorney further asked the court to award Guiste a one-third reduction of his sentence for his guilty plea. However, Justice Adrien-Roberts informed the attorney that a guilty plea to USC was only rendered after a jury was empanelled. Nevertheless, the Judge did note that some discount would be provided to the defendant.

Norde further posited that Guiste does not present any damage to the public or the victim, indicating a prospect of rehabilitation.

Judicial authorities set the maximum penalty for the offense of unlawful sexual connection at 14-years imprisonment. Norde averred that the offense falls within category three and the court should consider a starting point of 30% of the maximum sentence.

He added that since the mitigating factors far outweighed the aggravating factors, the court should consider a suspended jail sentence.

“So we are asking that you temper justice with mercy,” he stated to Justice Adrien-Roberts. “This is not the worst of the worst cases in terms of sexual assault cases, so please, give this hard-working farmer another chance.”

However, in her address to the court,  State attorney Daina Matthew said the prosecution is requesting a custodial sentence given the circumstances.

She advised the court that a suspended sentence can only be considered when the Judge’s final sentence is two years or less.

Matthew said that though there are instances where the court can step away from the sentencing guidelines, that is, exceptional circumstances where such departure can be justified, she is of the view that the defense attorney has presented none and a non-custodial sentence would not be in the interest of justice.

According to her, the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors and the offense falls in category two.

The prosecutor suggested that the court should consider a starting point of 45% of the maximum sentence.

In arriving at this sentence, Matthew said some factors taken into account are the fact that the victim attempted to get out of the bus on many occasions and no genuine remorse was demonstrated by Guiste for his action.

“Even after having pled guilty to the offense, the defendant maintains that he had some arrangement with the victim and as such he should not be held accountable. He insisted that the victim and her mother were trying to wrongfully frame him. He expressed regret for the current state which he found himself in, “ Matthew stated.

The State attorney suggested a sentence of four years, three months, and two weeks for the offense of USC and for the lesser charge of indecent assault, a sentence of one year and seven months to run concurrently based on the issue of totality.

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29 Comments

  1. Bwa-Banday
    July 12, 2022

    I am making a public appeal here for the law to be amended to the reflect the following;
    1. All accused (arrested or not) for sexual offenses can be named in public forums, media etc and their photographs displayed accordingly.
    2. If convicted of sexual crimes against a minor, the judge has the liberty to decide on medical castration to be carried out once all appeals have been exhausted.
    3. A severe whipping with strokes equal to the age of the accused be administered by a family member or members. A cat-o-nine or LOLOW-Beff shall be used followed by soaking in sea water for an hour.

    Too many accused run away for good because even when they are suspected only a few know their name or what they look like hence they FLYYYYYY AWAY sometimes with the help of police friend in immigration. TIME FOR CHANGE!

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  2. July 12, 2022

    Im sure he’s done worst and is only now getting caught or trapped. On another note though isn’t prostitution illegal? Did someone receive the money?

  3. Stel
    July 12, 2022

    Im sure he’s done worst ant is only now getting caught or trapped. On another note though isn’t prostitution illegal? Did someone receive the money?

  4. Lin clown
    July 12, 2022

    Mr.Arrow do not worry about IBO France and Ole Police.Both get a HARDON by telling lies and spreading fake news about Skerrit and,they have been doing that for 22 years.

    • Ibo France
      July 13, 2022

      Lie Clown, look out for a letter from my attorney who has never lost a case. Take that garbage to Dog Biter your bosom partner.

  5. Ibo France
    July 12, 2022

    @Lying Clown
    How do you know such intimate details about the tongues of men from Marigot? Enquiring minds want to know. Is it from personal experience?

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  6. Bwa-Banday
    July 11, 2022

    But wait nuh, a buch of enviole that in our country these days man. Mister self eat the woman (yes 18yrs), and still even if that did not turn her on he still try to mount her? No man, send Mr. Stocky so he can be a wife for one of them shameless part-time Mal-mama :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: . Hopefully he will get properly ananlized and then accidentally castrated. Dca has an enviole curse cast on it man? :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: . We need to stop selling all that bwa-banday and bush rum that making them sooooo en-shas!

    But I warning, pen-gard my daughter eh because there will be gruesome felony before the police arrive if any enviole mess with my child.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
  7. Bring back the kidnapped parrots
    July 11, 2022

    Give the man a chance he know not what he do, he did not mean to do it.

    • Ibo France
      July 12, 2022

      This is not a joking matter. If the young lady were your daughter, would you be so casual about it? The are is a time to laugh and a time to be serious. This is certainly not a time for jocularity.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  8. Arrow
    July 11, 2022

    “Not because you assume something makes it true. Speculation is not truth”. Am I reading properly? Did Ibo France really say that? Somehow it does not read well with his name to it. Roosevelt Skerrit should note that remark by Ibo France. As it represents a certain measure of now having to face reality. Every conceivable allegation of wrong doing (assumption) have been levelled at PM Skerrit. Ibo France has wallowed in these accusations and “assumptions” against the PM. Today, maybe for a split second, he has come to the realization that not every allegation against PM Skerrit is true. Its been assumption and more assumption.

    • Ibo France
      July 12, 2022

      An arrow is usually straight but you are a rare crooked one.

      Refute these:
      *Roosevelt is corrupt – Have you forgotten the garbage bins and certified scandals?
      *Roosevelt is a most notorious LIAR. – Have these materialized as yet? ROSS replacements, full account of the missing $2.4 B CBI funds, etc.
      *Roosevelt is a man known for his uncommon rage and outbursts. -Remember stale soup, old buggy, throw hot water on them, walk for pelau, etc
      These are not assumptions, these are the hard, inconvenient truths.

      The evidence is copious. The man is a confirmed good-for-nothing, villain. T

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  9. July 11, 2022

    Bring back the “Cat-O-Nine, and add Castration to the Law; and just to make sure dummies like Lin Clown and others even think about breaking the Law, let them have a dose of the punishment before hand; that my friends is called “De.ter.rent’.

  10. Lin clown
    July 11, 2022

    Any sexual intercourse with a person without their consent is rape.The slightest proof of penetration is rape.He eat her out is rape.That is called rape by penetration with tongue.Marigot men have rough tongue that can bruis.

    • Beta
      July 12, 2022

      I’m surprised you are on the victim’s side…for once! Just for the record Skerrit supporters have split tongues which are as poisonous as that of a Komodo dragon.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
    • Ibo France
      July 12, 2022

      @Lying Clown
      How do you know such intimate details about the tongues of men from Marigot? Enquiring minds want to know. Is it from personal experience?

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  11. If we knew better
    July 11, 2022

    “Guiste drove the young adult to an isolated area, offered her $40.00 for sexual favours which she refused but he forcefully performed oral sex on her.”

    To be honest, lets all be honest here, both men and women. He forcefully performed oral sex on her? Only way u seeing that happening is if its at gun or knife point. She is grown enough. otherwise it sounds like she let him eat her out. He wanted more, she said no.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 23
    • Ibo France
      July 11, 2022

      You were not there! You are only surmising. Not because you assume something makes it true. Speculation is not truth.

      Your speculative comment is one of the reasons sexually molested children are very reluctant to come forward. People like you victimize the injured party again with your specious and irresponsible conjecture.

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 3
      • If we knew better
        July 12, 2022

        What about cases when men are wrongfully accused? Im not saying i dont believe her, im just saying for man to have his head deep between a woman’s legs is a very vulnerable place for him to be, he cannot see and in some cases hear what is happening around him. Now to eat a woman out by force is a hard thing to do. If you dont believe me try it yourself. If she really doesnt want you to do that particular act, trust me you wont, unless maybe if you threatened with immediate physical harm. And even then..once you go diving, you no longer have the upper hand.

  12. Zandoli
    July 11, 2022

    “The attorney urged the Judge to give benefits to Guiste for exercising “great restraint”….”
    I think that attorney should be charged with contempt of court for trying to insult the judge’s intelligence.
    This attorney is a complete joker for uttering such nonsense.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 3
  13. Lin clown
    July 11, 2022

    You are a damn LIAR,ANou Parle Sorte.More of the haters of Skerrit,IBO France,Jonathan Y St.Jean and Gramoxone Francisco-dog comments have been posted by DNO than any other comment supporting Skerrit.I have accused DNO of being anti- Skerrit based on the amount of fake news and lies you and yours post about Skerrit.Typical,UWP dictatorship in the making.Telling DNO what they must and must not post.Crooks,traitors,habitual criminals and vagabonds

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 6 Thumb down 23
    • If we knew better
      July 11, 2022

      where does politics come into all of this?

      Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 3
    • the rock
      July 11, 2022

      No wonder your name is lin CLOWN :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

  14. Ibo France
    July 11, 2022

    I fully embrace your last statement. So many wrongs and evil committed by the Roosevelt’s corrupt regime, and not even one word of concern nor reprimand from this most popular news site, DNO. Why?

    When you see wrong and stubbornly refuse to speak out when you have a platform for exactly this, then you are complicit. It’s about time, DNO, that you start speaking TRUTH to POWER. Just the TRUTH we desire, nothing more, nothing less. Is that too much to ask of you? Come on man, it’s damn time!!!

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 10 Thumb down 9
    • Common Sense
      July 11, 2022

      Really… So a man was accused and charged for sexual assult and the best thing that you could come up with is that Skerrit made him do it. smh :-x Some people need mental help.

      • Ibo France
        July 12, 2022

        Your brain is hyperactive. It’s in overdrive.

        When people do wrong they accused the devil for making them do it. Roosevelt is the personification of Satan. However, I did not accused the soldier of Lucifer of influencing the accused of this crime. I won’t trivialize such a crime of this nature.

  15. Ibo France
    July 11, 2022

    There has been a slew of sexual deviant cases. The judge can act as a gatekeeper to protect our children and young adults from these dangerous pedophiles.

    Only when the court and civil society get serious would this particular heinous behaviour stop.

    Permit me to add, DNO. There is irrefutable evidence that a radio station personality who is a fanatical supporter of the ruling party, was caught on tape soliciting sexual favors from a minor. He was banned momentarily for this from the radio. Now he has been welcomed back with open arms by his colleagues.

    Are we really serious about the protection of our children as a society or we just give lip service to the cause.? Every ordinary and corporate citizen should sever all association with this radio station. If business with that entity continues as usual, then we have lost our moral compass. The whole of society should boycott that pariah radio.

    I stoutly stand against this articular wrong.

    Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 6
  16. July 11, 2022

    DNO, I do believe you enjoy writing on these topics so you can be so explicit as if you are at Hugh Heffner’s mansion. When it is to write on Skerrit and his gangs you maintain moo moo.

    Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 11 Thumb down 16
    • Vio
      July 11, 2022

      So what do you want DNO to do, not report on theses matters. Not sheild light this plague. Why do we insist on making everything about politics. DNO must say I appreciate you very detailed comprehensive court coverage

      Hot debate. What do you think? Thumb up 8 Thumb down 7
      • Ibo France
        July 11, 2022

        The media has a moral obligation to shed light on pertinent governmental, non-governmental issues affecting the society it serves.

        In a society where the government handcuffs itself to darkness and distance itself from light, for obvious reasons. The country becomes underdeveloped and the people suffer.

        Well-loved. Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 4

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