Declaring that Jeffrey David Yearwood was “a clear and present danger to society”, Chief Magistrate Douglas Frederick remanded him to prison when he appeared in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court Thursday on an indecent assault charge.
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“You are a clear and present danger to society to be walking around doing this sort of thing,” he said.
Yearwood, 33, of Hothersal Turning, St Michael, had just pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting a female visitor on August 7.
Prosecutor Sergeant Reginald Blackman, in outlining the facts, said the visitor went to ‘Vincy Town’ in Fairchild Street, The City. She left there and went to Golden Square Freedom Park where she sat on one of the seats.
Yearwood approached her and indecently assaulted her.
She yelled at him and noted he appeared drunk and his speech was slurred.
Yearwood again approached her but people in the area intervened. He walked away and she called police.
When interviewed by lawmen, Yearwood told them he was under the influence of marijuana, cocaine and mollies.
“It was a mistake,” he told the court. “I was under the influence of alcohol. It wasn’t weed.”
He said he was a “family man” and had “promised my kids some school things this week”.
He begged the court to impose a fine, saying he was no flight risk as he had no passport.
However, Chief Magistrate Frederick told him indecent assault was a very serious offence.
“It involves the violation of a person and for that there is the real possibility of a custodial sentence. In fact, only recently, the matters were changed so we could do them in the Magistrates’ Court. Previously they were reserved for the High Court,” he explained.
He further told Yearwood intoxication was not an excuse.
“Being under drug or drink is no defence,” he said, before ordering a pre-sentencing report on Yearwood and remanding him to Dodds Prison until September 10. (HLE)