Joey Tavernier,29, who pleaded guilty to having sexual intercourse with a 12 year-old girl was sentenced to five years imprisonment following the completion of a social inquiry and pre-sentence report.
Tavernier had sexual intercourse with the girl in 2008 between March 1 and April 19. A second charge of indecent assault was dropped against the accused.
He was remanded into custody following his guilty plea during his arraignment in May.
According to the facts of the case presented by state lawyer Wayne Norde on that day, the incident occurred at the complainant’s home.
“The complainant was sitting on her front step at her home. Whilst there the accused came into her yard. The accused then entered her home… The complainant … put her sister to sleep and the accused followed her into the bedroom,” Norde said.
“The accused started to kiss the complainant on her mouth. He then went on his knees and removed her underwear then removed his clothes… laid down on the complainant on the bed and inserted his penis into her vagina… According to the complainant it was very painful and she told him to stop about five times. He did not stop so she pushed him off,” Norde said.
The prosecutor continued, “ The complainant then saw what appeared to be blood on the sheet of the bed. She asked the accused what it was and he said it was blood. She then asked him what was the reason for the blood on the bed. He replied, [Your virgin gone].”
According to Norde, the accused man told the complainant that if her mother asked her about how she lost her virginity to “’Tell your mother you took it yourself either with a roll-on or a cucumber.’”
The complainant subsequently left.
Before passing sentence this morning, Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks related her disapproval of sexual offenses against young women. She cautioned the convicted man.
She also stated, “I am concerned with the fact that you were previously sentenced for the offense of rape and you come with this offense here again.”
“This offense was an error of judgment on your part…You allowed your animal… and fleshly desires to get the best of you…so you must pay,” the judge said.
Justice Stephenson–Brooks spoke against what was described as the breach of trust of committed by the convicted man. She frowned on the fact that Tavernier was a very close trusted family friend to the complainant and her mother when the incident occurred.
“You’ve not only hurt the young lady. You hurt her mother…Who, when you were hungry gave you food to eat…,” the judge said.
Justice Stephenson-Brooks also mentioned the unfortunate loss of the girl’s virginity which is considered sacred by some women.
Tavernier’s sentence was issued in consideration of time already spent in prison.
He was represented by Dawn Yearwood-Stewart.
The punishment is not enough!!!!!!!!!
I am a survivor of sexual abuse from my uncle who use to force himself on me. I didn’t know it was wrong at the time, but waking up with nightmares, letting men take advantage of me because of the fear that engulfs me when a man approaches me and not being able to have healthy relationships with men or people in general. That’s what I had to deal with everyday. Counseling helped: I told my couselor that it was my fault and she told me “It doesn’t matter if you walk around naked as a child, HE was the adult and HE should have known better”. We all know someone who’s been in that situation. Sexual abuse among children in Dominica has been there for a long time; it’s only now that it’s comming to light more. Stopping this cycle of abuse starts with US! When we see young men whistling and hollering at an underage girl, we need to say something. It’s NOT ok ‘size’ up a 10 year old. Unless we in our villages and town start showing more respect for these young boys and girls, nothing is ever going to change.
Parents you need to communicate better with your children. Why are children at home so afraid to tell their parents when someone is comming after them? That is YOUR child. You’d give your life for your child, so why would you allow anyone to think it’s ok to make your child think that he/she isn’t worth respecting?
Society, in paticular the legal system, needs to take a strong stance on these babaric acts of vilolence of the strong on the weak. Do you know in slave tmes the masters rape their daughters born to black mohers…@Celus: So
We urgenly need a highly cmprensive and extensive public eduction programme on statutory rape and its multiple effects on the victims. I@Chief prosecutor:
And the minister just said that up to a 14 years sentence can be imposed on them fellas. And mister only got five.
Garcon, is things like that that make people wanna take the law into their own hands. Wait till a parent pass their own judgement on one of them fellas, maybe then things might change….
Yes, and 5 years for a little weed too! ?.^*/@
@Chief prosecutor: Well i am a young male in the village also,and am just 20 ,going to college,that same child constanly making break on me, not even me alone,i could resist but i guess de partner just couldnt,mamsel having sex wit other persons it have other individuals who would force themselves unto others, i know this situation was different.they should have look into that one bit more,i kno having sex with under aged is wrong, but i kno that will always happen, when these lil girls going behind man, and allu can say wat allu want but,allu daugthers not innocent,allu will be surprised to know what they does be doing,you can call me idiot or whatever you want,the parents that allowing ppl, trusting wrong persons around they daughters,and wen ppl find out sex is being taking place and parents asking for money to keep secret and they doh get none, allu saying is rape.i am just sorry for those boys and men who fall in these traps.
@Anonymous: it should have been your daughter or sister-you animal
@Anonymous: The legal term for having unlawful sex with a minor is ‘Statutory Rape’…..so yes he did commit rape idiot.
thats why we need judges like Tiyani…because as a secound offender , that man would not have gotten five years, hell no. justice will surely be served by. Come on we are talking about the childs virginity. Honestly.. i would give that man 25 years to reflect on his life and what he did.
the laws in DA country are soft
i understand the the girl is under age and he shouldnt have sex with her, but the girl agreed is because the mother found out they say is rape,de man is no rapist, he just had sex with an underage girl.
This has gone far enough. Come on. Did not hurt the child. He ruined the child`s life. This is a sign to not just rapist but all criminals in Da. DO what you want. You will get off lightly. It is a shame to see what is going on soon we will be paying the price for the different court decisions.
“This offense was an error of judgment on your part…You allowed your animal… and fleshly desires to get the best of you…so you must pay,”
So he pays for and error in judgment and not for having sex with a 12 year old.
By the way the maximum sentence by Law for such a Error in Judgment is Life.
Get Serious a 12 year old.
The legal system in dominica is just weak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Five years for a habitual rapist! You got to be kidding me!!
And Celus, they charged a guy the same for just a little weed, and this guy/rapist gets off before the guy that had the weed….. you figure that one out?*/#@! PAIN.
@j.joseph: very soft
five years is not nearly enuff or just punishment for that rapist. he should be made a proper example off and a clear message must be sent to all those who prey on the young. this abuse business is becoming quite the phenomenon in dominica and we have to do much much more in order to protect our children.
you nasty, naucious, grose thing, i dont even know what to say, they should hanG you by your penis, just sick sick, of all the cows da have you had to rape the person child, seriously what pleasure can a man get from a 12 year old. they must burst AND split your rare end in stocky and make you drink the water, you are a poor excuse of a human being and a waste of your fathers sperm.
The judge herself stated that the man is a repeat offender, and he gets only 5 yrs with time served?… We are not serious in Dominica. These are the issues that the Government need to tackle, and the opposition should stop playing hide and seek outside parliament. When are we going to step up to the plate?
I just cannot understand how a convicted offender can be let out on the street AGAIN. That is failure on the part of the justice systems; not only in Dominica but around the world. I remember seeing a movie on Lifetime where the guy was let out and did it over and over again. There are psychological explanations to these things but when it hits home, which one of us want to hear explanation? These guys need to be put away so they don’t do this again! These people don’t learn from the news and movies we look at everyday? The criminals behave well just so they are let out to do their nonsense again! We need to protect our people!!!
” She also stated, “I am concerned with the fact that you were previously sentenced for the offense of rape and you come with this offense here again.” ( Judge Or Magistrate).
This is absurd, and outrageous, here we have a criminal sex offender, habitual it may seem, and the judiciary which should make an example of this man gives an approval speech to his behavior, and then gives him a slap on his hand by sentencing him to five years incarceration.
Here in the United States, he would be put away for a long time, and upon his release, he would have to register as a sex offender, prohibited from venturing within a mile from any school, or having contact with children.
He would not be allowed to live in any neighborhood where there are children.
Thus, his life would be miserable for the rest of his natural life.
Five years in our jail means he could (will be out) in about two and a half years. The innocence of a child is taken, and the criminal is all but walking free!
Where is the justice that this child deserves?
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Obviously this man has a problem that need to be addressed
also the young child may need counceling. Are there services available for the victims, or they just allow them to heal themselves. Sad story. as a mother i feel the victim’s pain
Justice Stephenson-Brookes, I’m a lil disappointed with the sentencing. Acknowledging the fact that he has already served some time, I still know that the jail term could have carried a greater penalty. Judgement was bit lenient in this case especially taking into account that this is not his first time being jailed for the same nature of offense.
5 years is nothing.
five years jail for a serial rapest ?????????????
she stated,and i quote ‘you were previously sentenced for rape,and you come with this offense again’ AGAIN and you let him off with only 5 years.the man is a habitual sex offender and he should be registered as such.he should be sent to jail for at least 25 years.but as the law in only dominica can be he will be sentenced to time served and be out befoer we can blink an eye for good behavior.
Yes in agreement