by Linda Straker
- Trevorson Roberts who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a five-year-old boy, left the state on Friday
- Commissioner of Police filed an appeal to review sentence
Police have confirmed that Trevorson Roberts, the 24-year-old Pastor who pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a five-year-old boy, left the state on Friday via an international flight from the Maurice Bishop International Airport on an aircraft bound for New York’s JFK International Airport.
“He has already been served with the Notice of Appeal. Notwithstanding, he could not be stopped by the State from leaving,” a law enforcement official explained.
The matter was heard on Wednesday and though the law provides for a maximum sentence of five years, the convict who was represented by lawyer Nigel Stewart did not receive jail time but was sentenced to pay a total fine of EC$2,100. Of that sum, EC$1,500 went to the state and EC$600 to be used by the victim for six therapy sessions.
On Friday evening the Ministry of Legal Affairs issued a statement which said that legislation for the registration of convicted sex offenders are among new legislative and administrative mechanisms being developed that will provide for the greater protection of children and other victims of sexual offences. “Presently, the Attorney General’s office, in consultation with various stakeholders including the Ministers of Legal Affairs and Social Development is actively developing various administrative and legislative mechanisms to provide greater protection for children and other victims of sexual offences” said a statement from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
“We are also working on a draft bill relating to the Registration of Sexual Offenders which is being considered by various stakeholders in preparation of it being submitted to Parliament,” said the statement which praised the Commissioner of Police for filing an appeal to review the sentence.
“Government is confident that the existing measures and others presently under consideration will foster greater effectiveness in the fight against sexual offences.” Under the Rehabilitation Offenders law, sexual offences are not among the crimes that will be expunged after a conviction.
The Acting Commissioner of Police, on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed the appeal against the sentence imposed by Nevlyn John, the Magistrate in the Grenville Magistrate Court. “The essence of that appeal is that the sentence imposed is manifestly inadequate having regards to the circumstances of the case and the present legislation. Pursuant to the Criminal Code, the offence of indecent assault carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment,” said the statement from the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
“This matter highlights the issue of sexual offences in Grenada against children and the need to ensure that existing laws indeed achieve the objective of deterring such offences and to protect the vulnerable in our society,” the statement added.
In 2012, after a consultative process with civil society, various provisions relating to sexual offences in the Criminal Code were amended to increase the penalties for those offences. However, indecent assault is not covered in the new sentencing guidelines which came into effective on 1 October 2019.
Just a fine! Just so he can moleste another that’s terrible he should be locked up!
He should be brought back to Grenada and JAILED!! His sentence was just a slap on the hands. They always start with “being a pastor”or to be “a missionary” this is what they to for their introduction to come into a country and start their atrocities whether sexual abuse and slavery!!
It is necessary to impose the full penalty for posers. People who pretend to be a light in this our societal world. In order to set the president, for other seemingly misguided individuals who prey on the innocence of our youth. Our youth are our future, if we continue to allow their morals to become tarnished… What will become of all the efforts we currently make… Who will be our inheritors. We need to keep their minds pure, their actions positive. We need to give them stable and comfortable lives, while molding them to walk in the delight of God. Only then can they walk the bridge of hope. Thus, we must rid our society of such predators. Hence, the investigation must continue. A bulletin must be issued across the world of social media and law enforcement organisations.
Where in new York he go we need to notify the authority, tht nasty [moderated] gonna do it again
He needs to be reported to the US, and classified as a sex offender…. The outcome of this is unfair, because a child lost his innocence, and his family in pain. No money will fix this. Sad how this has handled.
It is high time the people take the law into their own hands when it cone to foreigners doing crimes in our beloved country and getting away with very light sentences, if that was my child tgere is no law that would protect that sucker, from the moment that happen you got to move on them dont wait on the system it only protects the perpetrators not the victims, he should of been butchered early. Take a look at what happened in England, now is this a the kinds of disrepect people deserved, that sucker should be executed on the dime. We need to make examples of these people coming to destroy our beloved country and people, stay to hell away if you can’t come and do wright. Keep your filth in your country or else pay with your blood so the others will learn,