“Hands off our young ladies, find young ladies your own age!” is what Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks told a convicted sex offender after he pleaded guilty to the indecent assault of a 15 year old girl.
“Teenage girls are trouble. Where I come from they call them jail bait. Stay away from them… You have to see the young ladies and leave them alone. Find one your age. Leave the girls under 18 alone” she added.
Geshard Lestrade, 23, was sentenced to four years imprisonment after pleading guilty to the indecent assault of the teen, an incident which occurred on August 21, 2006.
Last week, Lestrade’s lawyer told the court that his client had no related offenses and did not know “what had gotten into” his client at the time of the incident.
According to the facts of the case, presented by Director of Public Prosecutions Gene Pestaina, the complainant was Lestrade’s neighbour had came to his home to bring a roast breadfruit to his home upon her mother’s request when the incident occurred.
According to the prosecutor, the convicted man invited the complainant to his room and where showed her his passport and told her that he was travelling soon and asked the complainant to have sex with him. She declined and replied that she was a school child. Lestrade in response said, “Even if you are a school child.”
“He then proceeded to pull down his pants and he removed a condom from his pocket, placed it on his penis…” the prosecutor said
According to Pestaina, the Letsrade then began to kiss and touch the complainant on her breast. He also rubbed his penis against her vagina.
He continued, “Whilst doing so the smaller sister of the complainant walked into the room. The complainant’s sister reported the matter to her mother.”
The matter was also reported to the police on the same day.
According to the prosecutor, between August 21 and May 5, 2007 several attempts were made to find the accused man but were futile.
He was eventually arrested in a nearby community on May 5 2007. When questioned on the matter, Lestrade told police, “I did not bring her to the room. It is she that come in my room. I did not ask her to come. When she come into my room I was on my bed resting…We start talking and I tell her I have to go she say she want to spend some time with me …We start kissing…”
“She said I strip her off but is she that strip off herself…Then her mother come and give me a couple slaps…I never enter her, I don’t know if she is a virgin…” Lestrate told police.
According to the court, Lestrade was 19 at the time of the incident.
During mitigation, Lestrade’s lawyer David Bruney asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence on his client.
“I would want to believe that he could be given an opportunity that doesn’t include a custodial sentence,” he said.
According to information disclosed in the court, Lestrade is already serving a four year sentence for a robbery conviction in Marigot. This sentence will be completed in 2010.
His current sentence will run concurrent with the present sentence. Two-and-a-half years of this present sentence was suspended by Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks.
Initially, Lestrade faced a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with the underage girl but this was subsequently dropped.
Before passing sentence Justice Stephenson-Brooks spoke against an increase in sexual crimes against children and young ladies. She insisted that the court must do what it takes to deter these offenses.
“Even if the young lady did come to your room and sit on your bed and say to take her… a child of fifteen doesn’t even have a right to see your private part…We as adults and the court, we have to protect our young ladies,” she said.
“Had it not been for the sister coming into the room this could have happened… I have to send a message to the young men out there that it is not appropriate….,” she added.
She advised the convicted man to “straighten up” his act.
dominican men afraid to approach grown,single women like myself and ask us question <instead they preying on our weak<vulnerable girls!!!they shud castrate them
four years for assaulting a fifteen year old girl who it seems did not put up a fight and five years for raping a 12 year old who resisted and was a virgin wow. What is wrong with our justice system?
hmmm..i really want to know eh…….justice must be served one day kankaday
Your 2 cents makes sense..it's the exact 2 cents I am throwing on the table…I am a young woman and trust me…some of these young teenage girls will make man take jail for nothing…they go looking for their ting eh…they fast…they want de sex too and you don know how these men and their penis operate…lol..they not seeing teenager or too young…all they seeing is sexual opportunity….some of these young girls need a good beating…she must have well enjoyed looking at de boy putting de condom on his willy…she wanted him self!
Where is the balance of justice, four years versus 3 months. Harsh sentence deserved but some getting off lighter than others. maybe we ought o have laws that have fixed penalties, no flexibility in sentencing, that way they all serve the same sentence.
DAY SHOULD BURST HER BACK…IF HER SISTER DIDNT NOT COME THERE SHE WOULD TAKE IT
I think 4 yrs in this case is too much. 1. There are cases where the accused was much older and only got a few months. 2. at the time of the crime she was 15 and he was 19. 3. Based on what i read on here, the victim stood there while the accused “…proceeded to pull down his pants and he removed a condom from his pocket, placed it on his penis…” ….. why didnt she leave or cry out for help or anything during that time ? I'm not condoning what he did but it almost seems like if the younger child had not interrupted, no one would have known about it. Just my 2 cents !
Yes, once a pedophile, always a pedophile and there should be maximum sentence for destroying young, often innocent, little girls. A strong message should be sent out to these very sick men. “D GWO BOUG” who was given only six months and 500 hours community service is now serving it as we write with two other prisoners, using his own yellow truck cleaning the gutters and sidewalks. It serve him right!!!!!
Yes I concur with all what Justice Birnie Stephenson-Brooks had to caution. This is the same cautioning she gave when she sentenced the pedophile earlier this year and he is out now after serving 3 months and has to now serve his 500 hours community service with the Roseau City Council. Once a pedophile, you are always a pedophile. They should all be given maximum sentence!!!
This man deserves his penalty. They have to realise that these young people are children and should not impose their sexual lusts on them. Like the judge said they need to find people of their age group. They do not even consider the future of these youths. That young lady's image has been tarnished because of that man.
Now I see that our law is targeting the poor man .When earlier this year d GWO BOUG was found guilty of sexually interfering a 15 year old girl he was sent to 6 MONTHS….YES 6 MONTHS !!! (as a matter of fact he is already out) and now for that same offence the guilty party is sent to 4 years.
When will we have justice for all in Dominica.