The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

TWO ministers scheduled to return to the Magistrate’s Court in December will be called on to give a defence concerning allegations that they gave a 15-year-old boy liquor to get him drunk.

Arsenio Butler, 28, and Devin Sears, 26, appeared before Magistrate Andrew Forbes yesterday morning for a ruling on their lawyer’s no case submission regarding a charge of “child cruelty” against the pair and indecent assault against Butler concerning an incident alleged to have occurred between January 31, 2014 and February 1, 2014.

It was alleged that they gave a teenage boy alcohol “in a manner likely to cause injury to his health”.

Butler, a pastor-elect, was separately charged with indecent assault, when it was alleged that he put his hand down the teenager’s trousers. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges in their first Magistrate’s’ Court appearance last February.

Magistrate Forbes yesterday determined that a sufficient case had not been made out by the Crown for Butler to answer to the charge of indecent assault when considering the second of two statements given to police by the complainant.

The alleged assault was only referred to in the second statement, which the complainant and police were at odds about in testimony as to where the statement was taken.

The magistrate discharged Butler of the assault charge.

However, the court ruled that Butler and Sears must answer to the remaining charge based on the evidence produced by the prosecution.

The pair can choose to remain silent or take the witness stand and give evidence under oath.

They can also elect to call witnesses on their behalf.

The case resumes on December 2.

Both men are represented by Romona Farquharson-Seymour.

Cordell Frazier represents the Crown.