Judge tells youth – Stay away from young girls!

Presiding Judge at the High Court Justice Frederick Bruce-Lyle on Tuesday warned a minibus conductor to stay away from young girls.{{more}}

Justice Bruce-Lyle placed 22-year-old Vermont resident, Herbie Walsh on a five-year bond in the sum of $5,000 or in default he will spend five years in jail. Walsh pleaded guilty at the Criminal Assizes to having sex with a girl under the age of 13 on May 26, 2007, at Vermont.

“Van drivers and conductors do not have a good image with the public when it comes to young girls. Stay away from them!” Bruce-Lyle warned.

The judge said that he knows that members of the public are going to act up when they hear of his sentence, but noted that the law has its own role to play. “This will teach you a lesson. Do not go around making yourself look like a village ram. You’re a young man,” Bruce-Lyle added.

The facts in the matter stated that the girl, who was 12 at the time of the incident, went to Vermont to visit her grandmother at approximately 4:45 p.m. While in Vermont, she met Walsh who invited her to his house, where they had sex.

Later that day the girl was questioned by her relatives as to where she had been. Following the conversation, a report was made to the police.

The medical report revealed that the girl was sexually active and there were no external injuries.

In his plea in mitigation, Walsh’s attorney Grant Connell told the court that his client and the girl were involved in a relationship. Connell further stated that Walsh showed great remorse for his actions by pleading guilty at the first opportunity and did not waste the Court’s time. (KW)