Taxi driver on attempted rape charge

Montego Bay, St James – A Montego Bay taxi driver accused of trying to rape a 14 year-old girl was denied bail when he appeared in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The court was told that the complainant had taken the accused’s taxi at about 9:00 am on February 12 and after dropping off another female passenger the driver took an unfamiliar route to the teenager’s destination.

When the girl asked him about the route, he allegedly told her not to worry, but took her to a secluded spot near a dumpster and some bushes.

The court was also told that the 33-year-old taxi driver had locked the windows while driving and when he stopped, he went to the back seat where the girl was seated and allegedly started fondling her breasts and legs. She resisted him, the court heard, and he is alleged to have told her that he only wanted to fondle her.

During a struggle, the man allegedly tore the zipper on the girl’s pants. At this point, the teenager told him that if he stopped fighting her she would have sex with him the next day. He allegedly made her promise then drove her home.

She, however, made a report to her mother, who then confronted the accused, whom she knew, and took him to the Montego Bay CIB office where he was charged with assault with intent to rape.

The taxi driver, who has four children, is scheduled to return to court on February 28.

Musician hard up for mortgage payment gets suspended sentence

Montego Bay, St James – A 51-year-old musician/craftsman who claimed he was having trouble meeting his mortgage payments was Wednesday given a suspended sentence after he pleaded guilty to trying to export about five pounds of ganja to Barbados.

William Johnson of a Barrett Hall, St James address, who the court heard is originally from Manchester and attended Knox College before moving to Montego Bay 26 years ago to find work in the tourism sector, was also fined $39,000.

He told the court that he was having problems paying his mortgage and was going to Barbados to sell his art when he decided to take some ganja as well.

The guitarist was arrested on February 11 at the Sangster International Airport after police said they found 25 packages of ganja in secret compartments in two boxes he had checked in.

He was sentenced to six months, suspended for two years, on each count of possession, dealing in, and taking steps to export ganja. He was fined $8,000 or three months for possession and $30,000 plus cost of $1,000 or three months for taking steps to export ganja.

MoBay man on simple larceny charge

Montego Bay, St James – A Montego Bay man who attempted to pay back $100,000 he had stolen from his former employer had his bail extended and the offer refused in court Wednesday.

Larry Robinson will return to court on March 29 when the charges will be mentioned.

Attorney Kenneth McLeod had offered a manager’s cheque for $100,000 to his client’s former boss in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court, hoping the charge would be dropped.

Senior Resident Magistrate Winsome Henry was, however, reluctant to drop the charge of simple larceny. There were others, the magistrate said, who had stolen far less and were sent to prison.

The judge pointed out that Robinson had violated the trust his employer had in him and he was expecting to walk free.