By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A MAN accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl he allegedly met on Facebook was acquitted of unlawful sexual intercourse.
Nathaniel Pedro Moss, 21, was found not guilty by an 8-1 jury verdict before Justice Jeannine Weech-Gomez.
Moss appeared visibly relieved when he was told he was free to go as long as he had no other matters before the court.
Prosecutors alleged he had sex with the girl, then 14, in New Providence on September 9, 2023.
In his opening statement, prosecutor Gary Rolle III told jurors Moss met the girl on Facebook and manipulated her into letting him pick her up and take her to his house on the pretence that they would watch Netflix together. He alleged Moss had sex with her against her will and refused to take her home that night, and urged jurors to review the evidence dispassionately.
Detective Sergeant 278 Rolle previously testified that the girl told him Moss persuaded her to sneak out that night and stay over at his home. She said that while they were watching a movie in a back room of the house, Moss tried to kiss her and, when she refused, he began choking her and then forced himself on her, the officer said.
Det Sgt Rolle said he conducted a confrontation between Moss and the girl on September 2, 2024, in the presence of her aunt. Moss told the officer he had exchanged photos with the girl online, but that she had never been to his house before that night.
A video of the confrontation was played in court, but its audio was barely audible.
Moss maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
Sonia Timothy Knowles and Crystal Stuart represented Moss. Davina Pinder also prosecuted.
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