Sentencing postponed in sex deacon case

THE sentencing of Shamar Morgan, 18, and the 14-year-old co-offender, who both pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the back of a van, while allegedly under the supervision of a former deacon of the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge, was postponed on Friday.

Appearing in the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday, both young men were ordered by RM Georgianna Fraser to return to court on September 15, due to the absence of RM Judith Pusey, the magistrate before whom they entered their guilty pleas.

In the meantime, 46-year-old Donovan Jones, the former deacon of the Church Dayton Diamond Ridge implicated in the matter, was further remanded into custody yesterday after a bail application on his behalf was turned down by presiding magistrate Martin Gayle. He is scheduled to return to court on September 12.

Jones’ co-accused, James Rogers, who allegedly video-recorded the sexual assault of the young girl on several occasions, was also ordered to return on September 12.

Pregnant teen mom refused bail

SASHA Payne, the pregnant Denham Town teenager facing firearm charges, was yesterday refused bail in the Gun Court. She is to face trial on September 14.

Bail application by Attorney Michael Lorne was refused by Justice Mahadev Dukharan due to the nature of the allegations and that a child was injured in the alleged shooting.

Payne, 17, is charged with illegal possession of firearm and wounding with intent from an incident in Arnett Gardens, which resulted in an 11-year-old boy being shot in the foot earlier this year.

Council of Churches gets new gen sec

THE Jamaica Council of Churches yesterday announced the appointment of Rev Gary Harriott as general secretary, effective September 1.

He succeeds Rev Harris Cunningham who served the organisation for the past five years. Rev Harriott is a minister of the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.