Grand Bay man gets 32 months for unlawful sexual assault

courtDespite a strong moving and passionate mitigating plea by attorney at law, Bernadette Lambert, begging the court not to impose a custodial sentence on her client Marlon Alexander, 28 of Grand Bay, he received two years and eight months behind bars.

He was sentenced by Justice Errol Thomas after he pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, who at the time of the offence was 14 years and 8 months old.

The offence carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in jail.

According to the facts of the matter, on May 14, 2012, the mother of the girl, who resides in Castle Bruce sent the child to Roseau to do errands.

But she did not return until Tuesday the following week.

While in Roseau the child was contacted by Alexander, who instructed her to meet him at the Kingshill bus stop.

She did as instructed and was taken to his home in Kingshill where she was given food and taken to the room where they had sexual intercourse.

He then gave her clothing and she slept with him and the next day he again had sex with her from 6:oo am. He then took her to Roseau and told her he was going to Grand Bay.

However at 5:00 pm on that day she went back to his home and in his absence force-opened the house and entered and stayed there, in his absence, till Tuesday when she returned home to Castle Bruce.

On arrival, she was taken to the police who questioned her and Alexander was subsequently arrested.

Lambert in her mitigation told the court that Alexander was “very remorseful…had fully cooperated with the police, had not wasted the court’s time and pleaded guilty at the earliest.”

“It was a lapse in his judgment, from 0-24 years he has been a model citizen, please we beg the court not to impose a custodial sentence on him, he will be better out in the society,” she told the court.

She brought in two character witnesses: Raymond Lawrence, retired chief cultural officer, who is also the director of the Waitukubuli Dance Theatre Company (Alexander is a member of the group) and retired secondary school teacher, Marcella Severin.

Both begged the court for a none custodial sentence on Alexander.

Lawrence described Alexander as a “respectful, well mannered, good leadership skills and a team player”. He said he was shocked to learn of the incident four years ago and despite it, Alexander continued to impress.

In handing down the sentence Justice Errol Thomas said that the message emanating from the court must be “patent” especially given the upsurge in sexual related cases over the past few years.

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42 Comments

  1. February 1, 2016

    This was not a victimless crime.

    The girl was 14. She was under the ago of consent. If she willingly participated it meant nothing
    because legally she was not old enough to give consent. In some countries this is called statuary rape.
    This girl may have been emotionally scared for life.

    We have seen victims this age develop problems later in life including difficulty forming legitimate relationships with the opposite gender, substance abuse, and even suicide. Which raises the question ”Was professional counseling provided for this victim to help avoid these problems later in life :?:

    The maximum penalty for this crime is 14 years. In light of the present upsurge of sexual child abuse cases in Dominica many people are going to have a hard time understanding why Justice Thomas would only give the man two years and eight months. They have waited long for change. I could understand people losing patience.

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

    • February 1, 2016

      ARE you saying that this child who was “raped” who as you said will be emotionally scared for life ,had the courage although she was scared to go back to her “rapist’s” house ,break and open because she had no keys then enter to continue to do what got her scared? come on get a grip,as a matter of fact ,i personally never send my son to town as a minor ,minors are not responsible enough in these day and age especially little girls we can see that they are up to no good when they are out of site…nonetheless i am not supporting what this man did because he new that she was a minor ,he should cover his back abstain from sex…hope he will learn by his mistake and this mother should get a grip of her daughter till she is in her majority…

      • February 1, 2016

        Yes, this girl was raped. Her ”consent” meant nothing. It was not legal because legally she was not old enough to consent.

        She knew what they did was wrong. When anybody knowingly violates God’s moral code they become inwardly (emotionally) scared.

        If she was forced against her will she is not guilty but the violence leaves an emotional scare.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist.

  2. Never shameful
    February 1, 2016

    Boy u get off easy. U better count that blessing eh U might not get it again.
    An these ppl gonna really stand up in court on ur behalf? U get off easy.
    U better straight like an arrow from now on.

  3. Preacher
    February 1, 2016

    Disappointed he should have got at least 10 years
    That others may learn
    Sex with a minor is wrong according to the law
    Men take warning leave young girls alone

  4. tj
    January 31, 2016

    For a retired teacher to plead for easy punishment for sexual offense for a rapist is mind boggling. The cultural officer should of our culture. Is raping accptable?

    • Rabbit
      February 1, 2016

      Where did it say he raped her.if he raped her. Why do u think she went back to his place and not the police ? The guy is not a rapist. His gf was just underage.

      • Fed up with these damn predators
        February 1, 2016

        It WAS statutory RAPE because a child under 16 cannot give consent!

      • February 1, 2016

        I don’t think she realized this was something that should be reported to the police.

        He wasn’t expecting the police to get a hold of it. She willingly went along with it one move at a time: to his house, a meal in the kitchen, and into the bedroom. It was not as if he dragged her kicking and screaming into the bedroom.

        We have no reason to think she was his ”girlfriend.” She was under the age of consent. If she did consent it was not valid. This means if he had sex with this 14 year old girl it was rape.

        Sex belongs in marriage. Outside marriage it is a sin the Bible calls ”fornication” which literally means ANY kind of illicit sexual intercourse. It includes premarital sex, extra marital sex (Adultery), homosexuality, incest, and bestiality.

        Any violation of God’s moral code in the New Testament will create problems and eventually be punished by God unless the individuals repent. See 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, and 1 Corinthians 6:18.

        Sincerely, Rev. Donald…

  5. disgusted
    January 30, 2016

    shame on Raymond Lawrence and Marcella Severin

  6. sassie sue
    January 30, 2016

    why allu want to castrate him when a the girl was all on his facebook page saying she sorry. stupes

  7. January 30, 2016

    Take what you get. In my opinion he got off easy. She’s 14 you’re 24

  8. Caretaker
    January 30, 2016

    This sound like a family business or monkey business no need to comment. This should never get to the courts. mother sent you on an errand in Roseau meaning mother stayed at home. Meet me at bus stop this was planned. Even overnighting, so you were at liberty, the person was not a stranger. You lead the man on and when questioned by mother, you panic and change the whole story. Men you all are so beautiful so be of strong mind. sorry for the guy he did not deserved that.

    • Watchful eye
      January 31, 2016

      This is Dominica and we are in 2016. 14 years is school age. People need to be more responsible with who they choose to have sex with. I do not care how good she lied about her age, it was his responsibility to verify that what she was saying was truth. That just goes to show how easily people “hook up” and how easily AIDS and other STDs are spread. “Dyab en sac”. As a “man” it is your responsibility to know these things before putting your piece in the person 14 year old child hole.

  9. mr angry
    January 30, 2016

    How can layer defend such crime and have the gots to ask for a none custodial sentence.What is she thinking of ? If it was her daughter would she be asking for the same result?Dominicans seem to be in a world of their own where law and order has no meaning. I feel sorry for you all , the guy should receive the full sentence for what he did

    • Face the Facts
      January 31, 2016

      “guts”

  10. De Mweh
    January 30, 2016

    So U Mean To Tell Me, She Din Get Enuff So She Break In To Go Fuh More?
    Lil Girls Nowadays….

  11. viewsexpressed
    January 30, 2016

    Well done Judge Errol Thomas, Thanks. Thanks also to the Child Advocates, NGO Coalition ChildFund, DNCW, the child Rights Advocate Francis Joseph, the many silent leaders, Welfare Division.

    Protect our children they are innocent.

    • concern citizen
      February 1, 2016

      so who protecting the 15yr who just gave birth for her father….what welfare to checking they not checking it at all…that is a useless system

  12. Rescue 911
    January 30, 2016

    If they’ve been chatting on Facebook, don’t y’all think he knew her age.I’m sure he knew a little something about her.I hope he learned his lesson.

  13. Face the Facts
    January 29, 2016

    Lambert in her mitigation told the court that Alexander was “very remorseful…had fully cooperated with the police, had not wasted the court’s time and pleaded guilty at the earliest.”
    So what? He committed the crime on a minor and coerced her to have sex with him. You took away he After he got what he wanted, he left her and did not even offer to drive her to her home. This man sounds cold and heartless.
    Judge, you should have given him 14 years. But for those who pleaded on his behalf the sentence was decreased. Hope he learned a lesson. Do not force yourself on any woman and by no means a minor.
    Consider how worried her mother was. For God’s sake! This is a minor! His conscience did not bother him to think that her mother would be worried about what happened to her.
    To the mother, you should not have sent her to Roseau; not a minor. Castle Bruce is far from Roseau. Mothers must keep a close tab on their children especially their teenage girls.

    • concern citizen
      February 1, 2016

      you are very stupid

  14. January 29, 2016

    the only offence u get max for when u pleaded guilty is murder or treason, the law states if u pleaded guilty to a felony one third of the sentence is dropped and i guess also the court take into consideration his background in society thats why he got the 32 months but this should be a lesson to older males, is your freedom worth it?

  15. Silver Grass
    January 29, 2016

    These little girls want to be big before their time. Everyone of them have a cell phone which is much more expensive than the one I have; and I’m a working person. They are all about sex and can hardly read and spell. When I was growing up, girls 20 years old were still “virgins.” Now? Cut that 20 in half.

  16. mine
    January 29, 2016

    He should consider himself lucky he got 32 months behind bars. The witnesses should be ashamed of themselves being the condition of the case the child was fourteen(14) years old. I wonder how they would feel if this child was their own.

  17. Marguerite
    January 29, 2016

    (Sean Pinard, 36, has been sentenced to three years and four months by Justice Errol Thomas after he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting his cousin in Roseau, who was at that time fifteen years and 6 months old at the time)(DNO June 2015). Same justice handed down three years for fondling a breast but two years for two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, who at the time of the offence was 14 years and 8 months old.

    There is a lack of consistency in these sentencing.

  18. don't care
    January 29, 2016

    Good example learn to respect people children

  19. don't care
    January 29, 2016

    But say you from Roseau nh all your life that’s where you living

    • GB
      January 31, 2016

      I have lived Grandbay all my life and I do not know mister. When they do crime they know they from Grandbay. Smh

  20. Dolce vita
    January 29, 2016

    That’s why you must leave them lil girls alone. If a woman cannot help me pay a bill forget it, times are hard. I must say it’s a funny story.

    • Leah Remy
      January 30, 2016

      I gave you a thumbs up for the first sentence. But I’m curious: what part of the ‘story’ do you find that’s funny? Because I didn’t see anything funny about the whole incident as related here on DNO.

  21. peaceful
    January 29, 2016

    Well Uncle Ray and Mademoselle all you not easy. The first part should never happen so the child would not have to come n break into his house. IS A CHILD….people we have to look out for them notwithstanding their character…we have to HELP.

  22. udony
    January 29, 2016

    Remorseful doesn’t mean a slap on the wrist. He should have think long and hard at what he was
    doing. he should have gotten the max.

  23. Shaka Zulu
    January 29, 2016

    All sexual assault is unlawful. Just picking on subject line.

  24. Floridian diaspora
    January 29, 2016

    32 months is not enough. I suspect is a Laborite that do that is why he get that little bit of jail time. Cut off his penis. Castrate him. That way he will never do it again. Feel free to respond to my comment below if you have a problem with it.

    • Cece
      January 29, 2016

      Idiot

    • All up in your face
      January 29, 2016

      I will reply to your stupid comment” Floridian diaspora.” Explain to me what politics have to do with an adult having sex with a minor ? It just seems that if a fowl poo poo in Dominica is some politician who cause it. SMH

    • LRB
      January 29, 2016

      you are such an idiot – Floridian diaspora

    • jahgirl
      January 30, 2016

      I sure do have a problem with what a damnazzz like you typed. Why would you want such inhumane act on a man? Would you agree for someone else to cut off your father’s , brother’s or son’s penis and castrate them whether they had sex with an underage girl? There are other forms of punishments but calling for castrations go way deep. Someone needs some psychological help. You are sick.

    • JoJo
      January 30, 2016

      u just a clown

    • jodi
      January 30, 2016

      :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  25. Dominican
    January 29, 2016

    Raymond Lawrence I have lost all respect for you

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