Preacher sentenced to 12 years in jail for rape

A man, who claims that he was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher, says he raped an eight-year-old girl because he was under the influence of alcohol.{{more}}

Eli Providence of Glenside, Mesopotamia, was on Wednesday sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for having sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, when he appeared before Justice Wesley James at the High Court’s Criminal Assizes.

He was also slapped with a four-year prison sentence for indecently assaulting the girl.

He pleaded guilty to both charges.

Luckily for him, the sentences will run concurrently.

And now, Providence is begging forgiveness.

“I’m asking for forgiveness. I was under the influence of alcohol. And I [am] asking the public please to also forgive me, because I know what I have done is wrong…,” Providence said, as he spoke with SEARCHLIGHT just outside the court house, before police officers escorted him to his new abode.

The court heard that on June 1, 2012, the girl was on her way home when Providence grabbed her and pulled her into a nearby, abandoned building about 20 feet away from his home. He then raped her and forced her to perform oral sex on him.

Two males witnessed the unlawful act and rushed to the child’s assistance. They pulled Providence off the child, beat him and took him to the police station.

Three women, who spoke in court on behalf of Providence, said good things about the child molester and stated that they were shocked by the incident.

While standing in the dock as his character witnesses spoke, Providence repeatedly wiped tears from his eyes.

When the child’s mother was called to the stand, Providence apologised to her and she accepted his apology, saying she forgave him.

It was the view of the judge that the devil got hold of Providence that day.

“The devil got into you that morning. You are a man who carried the Bible with you and preached sometimes. These are the people the devil attacks the most…,’ the judge said.

“You went and molest the child, man? Eight years old?… Despite what they (the character witnesses) said, this is a serious offence,” James said.

“…Such a wicked act to a child is wrong. And anybody out there who decides to do it, I ask them please to desist from doing it,” Providence further told SEARCHLIGHT.

“It is wrong to destroy the youths of today. We need to love the youths dem more and show dem more love and concern, especially the fathers… Some fathers destroy children and put the children at serious risk and destroy their future and I’m asking them please to not get involved.

“I just want to ask for forgiveness. Sin is sin and the only thing about sin is death. If you commit a sin you shall be punished for it. Here am I being punished for my sins. It’s not nobody else fault…. I just ask them to please refrain from it,” Providence said.(KW)