ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – IT Specialist, Mr Oliver Lewis, 34, of Guyana will return to the Magistrate’s Court in September for hearing in a sexual assault matter involving a minor.
Lewis, who is also a resident of Lambert Estate, was charged with eight counts of indecency with a child below the age of 14 years when he appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on June 21, 2013.
The acts allegedly occurred between April and June, 2013.
When the matter was called on July 19, 2013 Senior Crown Counsel Sarah Benjamin told the court that the Crown needed to secure additional information before proceeding with a trial against the defendant.
It was also revealed that full disclosure of all relevant documents had not been made on the defence at the time.
Lewis pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him by Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards. He is represented by Attorney – at – Law Stephen Daniels.
He remains on US$60,000 signed bail with two sureties and was instructed to have no contact with the VC or third parties associated with the VC as part of his bail conditions. He was also asked to report to the East End Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 6 A.M. and 6 P.M.
The matter is set for report on September 27, 2013.
Allegations read by Principal Crown Counsel Tiffany Scatliffe stated that the Virtual Complainant (VC) is a child of 13 years of age and the accused and family of the VC are friends.
It is alleged that on a Saturday in the latter weeks of April, the accused had a conversation with the VC’s father and asked if he (VC) could assist him at work where he is an IT specialist for a security firm.
The father reportedly agreed and the accused picked up the VC from his home with his private vehicle and took him to a residence in the area of Mount Healthy. While at the residence, the accused allegedly indecently assaulted the VC.
About two days after, the minor allegedly had a conversation with the accused while he was at school. As a result, the accused allegedly went to the school and signed out the VC during lunch hours and took him back to the residence at Mount Healthy and allegedly assaulted the VC before taking him back to school.
The incident was allegedly repeated the day afterwards around the same time.
The incident was allegedly repeated again several days later and the accused was said to have allegedly assaulted the VC and enticed him to perform other acts of gross indecency.
Allegations further stated that on a weekend following the initial incidents, the defendant contacted the VC’s father once again for the child to go to work with him and the father reportedly agreed.
The VC was reportedly taken to the defendant’s Lambert Beach apartment where he was allegedly assaulted and enticed to perform gross acts of indecency by the defendant. The acts were allegedly repeated at the same location by the accused on subsequent dates with the VC.
On June 11, 2013 the brother of the VC told his parents that he saw the VC leaving with the accused at lunch time and reportedly told his parents that it was a usual occurrence for the accused to collect the VC at lunch.
The VC’s father reportedly had a conversation with his son and the VC told him certain things. A complaint was later made to Police. A detective met the accused in the area of Road Town and told the accused of the report against him before cautioning the defendant. He reportedly replied: “I’m aware of it.” [Virgin Islands News Online]
