The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

SENTENCING for a man convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl has been delayed by six weeks.

Dominique Saunders, 28, appeared before Justice Gregory Hilton yesterday for his expected sentencing concerning his sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl on November 19 and 20, 2013.

However, the court ordered a probation report be prepared for Saunders to assist with sentencing.

The judge adjourned sentencing to July 6 because the report from the Department of Rehabilitative Welfare Services would require at least six weeks to produce.

Saunders is facing between seven years and life imprisonment at the Department of Correctional Services.

At a formal arraignment in the Supreme Court in May 2014, Saunders pleaded not guilty to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse.

A person under the age of 16, according to the law, cannot give consent for sexual intercourse.

On Monday, however, he pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to evidence heard in court, on the evening of November 19, 2013, Saunders invited the girl to his residence and then his bedroom. When he hugged her and started touching her, the girl told him she wanted to leave and began walking towards the door, but was pulled to the bed where he started kissing her and removing her underwear.

It was at this moment that he had sex with her despite her screams and the pain from the ordeal. When he was finished, the girl went to the restroom to urinate where she saw blood.

Saunders then led the girl back to his bedroom and suggested she sleep over because it was already dark outside.

Sometime during the night, however, he wakened the girl and had sex with her again.

On the morning of November 20, 2013, the girl awoke and told Saunders that she was leaving. However, she met a police officer at the front door who asked for her name and age, which she gave.

The officer cautioned and arrested Saunders after receiving the girl’s answer.