NASSAU, Bahamas, CMC-A High Court judge has sentenced a 47-year-old man to more than five years in jail after he was found guilty of sex crimes involving the child of a family friend.
“There is no sentence that I can impose that could restore the innocence that was taken from (the victim),” said Justice Joyann Ferguson as she imposed the five-year and six-month jail term on Jose Thompson, 47, who had faced a possible maximum sentence of eight years in prison for the offense of indecent assault.
Justice Ferguson said that Ferguson, who did not show any visible reaction, was only spared the maximum sentence because he had no previous convictions, and that the sentence takes effect from May 13, 2025, the date of conviction.
The judge said the crime was “a breach of trust carried out on an innocent mind before it could comprehend such sexual actions.”
Thompson was a friend of the parents of the five-year-old child and was, at times, allowed to pick him up from school in New Providence. The indecent assault took place on three successive days in November 2020.
While at his home, Thompson undressed the child and kissed his genitals. Thompson also placed his penis between the child’s butt.
The abuse came to light after the child uncharacteristically kissed his father on his lips. When questioned about his actions, the child told his mother that Thompson had kissed him, prompting her to call the police.
Meanwhile, Dwight Belle, 58, a child molester, who committed an offense shortly after his release from prison, was on Thursday jailed for 13 years and ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment.
Justice Jeanine-Weech-Gomez said that Belle will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Registry upon his release from prison. She said the sentence would protect the public and particularly young children from Belle, “who has demonstrated a persistent, dangerous sexual attraction to young boys”.
Due to the nature of the crime, Belle is not eligible for a sentence reduction for good behavior. He had earlier received credit for pleading guilty to his crime, sparing his young victim the trauma of reliving the sexual assault.
The court heard that on September 7, 2024, Belle lured the nine-year-old boy into his New Providence home and raped him. After the sexual assault, he gave the boy two US dollars and a bag of chips and told him not to tell anyone.
The crime took place soon after Belle completed a sentence of nine years and five months for molesting a five-year-old boy. He showed no reaction when he was sentenced.
His attorney, Nathan Smith, had sought a sentence of 10 years coupled with psychiatric treatment, while the prosecutor, Desiree Ferguson, asked for a 20-year prison term.
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