Medical certificate holds up case against senior fireman accused of sex crime
An outstanding medical certificate is impeding the prosecution’s case against a senior firefighter who is accused of a sex crime against a 14-year-old girl.
A committal hearing was scheduled for Tuesday to determine whether the case should be transferred to the Circuit Court for trial, but the court was informed that the medical certificate was still unavailable.
Meanwhile, the fireman’s lawyer, Kevon Johnson, told the court that he believes the Parish Court, rather than the Circuit Court, should have jurisdiction, and the clerk-of-court said he was not opposed to the attorney’s suggestion. However, the issue of jurisdiction was not addressed.
Presiding judge Sasha-Marie Smith-Ashley subsequently rescheduled the case for December 21 and extended the accused’s bail. The court will find out on that day whether the parish court will have jurisdiction over the case.
The firefighter was arrested at his office on August 16 in connection with the incident involving the teen who was on summer job at the fire brigade department in Montego Bay.
Reports are that the youngster reported the matter to her family, who alerted the police.
READ: High-ranking fire brigade official accused of touching 14-y-o girl
The firefighter was subsequently charged with attempted rape and sexual touching after a visit to his office by a police forensics team.