Linden man jailed for sexual activity with underage girl

Jan 07, 2020 News

A Wismar, Linden man was yesterday sent to prison for 20 years for engaging in sexual activity with an underage girl.

JAILED: Keon Lawson

The man, Keon Lawson, was found guilty on two counts of the offence by a 12-person jury last December. He returned to court yesterday before Justice Simone Morris-Ramlall for the presentation of a probation report and sentencing.
Between November 1, 2014 and November 30, 2014, in the County of Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with a six-year-old girl. It was further alleged that on October 6, 2017 in the County of Demerara, he engaged in sexual activity with the same girl when she turned nine.
Justice Morris-Ramlall imposed an 18-year prison term on the first charge; a 20-year jail sentence was imposed on the second charge. The judge ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently.
Kaieteur News understands that between November 1, 2014 and November 30, 2014, Lawson went over to the girl’s home where she was alone watching television. Lawson held onto the six-year-old girl and covered her mouth with his hand. He then pulled down her underwear and had sex with her. He continued to violate the girl, this time, when she turned nine.
On October 6, 2017, the girl was sent by her mother to Lawson’s home to collect some chicken that was stored in a freezer.
At the time, he was alone at home.
When the girl was about to leave, he blocked the doorway and then threw her onto a chair where he had sex with her. The child later confided to her class teacher about what happened. The teacher summoned the child’s parents and the police were called in to probe.
In a probation report, which was read to the court, the victim related that ever since the incident, she has been having issues socialising, especially with persons of the opposite sex. In fact, she told the probation officer that her father is the only male she trusts.
During a plea in mitigation, Lawson’s lawyer, George Thomas, begged the court to be lenient with his client. The lawyer asked the court to consider that his client was only 20 years of age when he committed the offence.
Furthermore, Thomas told the court that there is a high chance of Lawson being rehabilitated.
However, State Prosecutors Nafeeza Baig and Teriq Mohamed asked the court to consider the nature and circumstances under which the offence was committed. Prosecutor Baig pointed out that Lawson’s act was recurring, and that he breached a position of trust. The prosecutor further highlighted that the young girl was robbed of her innocence at a very tender age.
In handing down the custodial sentences, Justice Morris-Ramlall considered the prevalence of sexual offences in society. In fact, she alluded to the number of cases emanating from Linden that has been before her court.
Like the prosecutor, the Judge also noted that the young girl was violated on more than one occasions. Also, the Judge found that Lawson showed no genuine remorse.
According to her, at the announcement of the guilty verdict, Lawson expressed that he was sorry; however, in the probation report, he maintained that he was innocent of the crimes.
Apart from the jail terms, the Judge ordered that Lawson is to undergo counselling quarterly for those who have been convicted of sexual offences.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News