The Tribune

By KEILE CAMPBELL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kcampbell@tribunemedia.net

A CHARLES Vincent Street man was sentenced on Friday to three months in prison for assaulting the mother of his child during a disagreement at his home in September.

Javan Stubbs, 22, was also ordered to pay $500 compensation to the complainant, Jakquel Dennis. If he fails to pay, he will serve an additional two months. He was further ordered to complete three months of anger management. His sentence took effect from October 3.

The incident occurred around 4pm on September 27. Ms Dennis told the court she went to Mr Stubbs’ home to drop off their young son and asked him to keep the child while she went to braid hair. She said Mr Stubbs refused, and the pair argued on the porch.

Ms Dennis said Mr Stubbs pushed her and the child toward his mother’s vehicle and then closed the house door on her. She said they spent about ten minutes taking the child back and forth. She said it had been raining and that Mr Stubbs eventually pushed both her and the boy into a pool of water on the ground.

She said Mr Stubbs then opened the door of the vehicle she arrived in and told the driver to take her home. She said he hit her in the face after she tried again to hand the child to him. She said she attempted to hit him with her cell phone, but he knocked it from her hand. She said she told him she was going to press charges because it was not the first time he had put his hands on her.

During questioning, Mr Stubbs asked Ms Dennis whether he touched her when she arrived at the door, and she said yes. He asked if she had hit him with her phone, and she said no. Ms Dennis told the court Mr Stubbs liked to put on a show in front of female guests. Mr Stubbs denied hitting her and asked why she was doing this to him. Ms Dennis told him he needed to stop hitting women.

A police officer attached to the Grove Police Station testified that he interviewed Mr Stubbs on September 29. He said Mr Stubbs was informed of his rights. He said Mr Stubbs denied hitting Ms Dennis and claimed she pulled his shirt, causing him to remove her hand and causing her to fall. He said Mr Stubbs refused to review his answers and declined to give a written statement. He denied beating or forcing Mr Stubbs.

Mr Stubbs told the court he had been with his cousin and two of her friends when Ms Dennis arrived. He said he told her he was busy and could not keep the child because he had an 8pm curfew and was going somewhere where children were not allowed. He confirmed the two carried the child back and forth. He said he opened the door of the vehicle Ms Dennis arrived in and asked the driver to take her home. He said she grabbed his shirt, and he removed her hand, after which she threw a tantrum. He said he tried calling the police for assistance but no one came. He said he asked his cousin to call the police but her phone battery was dead. He said Ms Dennis and their child left with the driver shortly afterward.

The magistrate convicted Mr Stubbs and imposed the sentence and compensation order. He was remanded to begin serving his time.