A 63-year-old retired teacher is slated to return to court on Feb. 12 for trial on four counts of indecent assault of a child under the age of 15.
Police said that John Clyde Fitzpatrick, of Sion Hill, allegedly committed the offences between September 2024 and January 2025.
Fitzpatrick appeared before the Family Court on Feb. 3, where he pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
He was admitted to EC$3,000 bail with one surety and the matter was adjourned and transferred to the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court for trial.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the case and the need to protect the identity of the minor, further details cannot be disclosed at this time,” police said in a statement on Tuesday.
They, however, said that all necessary legal processes are being followed to ensure justice is served.
Fitzpatrick was charged under Section 127(1)(a) of the Criminal Code, CAP 171 of the Revised Edition of the Laws of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2009), which states that indecent assault on a child under the age of 15 carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
Additionally, subsection 2 notes that a child under 15 cannot, in law, give consent that would prevent an act from being considered an assault.