Priest gets 12 years in prison for sex with minor on church compound
Published:Monday | March 23, 2026 | 10:19 AM
A catholic priest who was found guilty of having sex with a minor on the compound of his church was on Friday sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in the St Catherine Circuit Court.
The 41-year-old was sentenced by Justice Dale Palmer to 12 years for having sexual intercourse with a person under 16 and five years for sexual touching.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve 12 years in prison.
He must serve eight years before being eligible for parole.
The court heard that between March and April 2023, the priest had sex with the then 12-year-old at his living quarters on the church's compound.
The matter came to light and was reported to the police’s Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse.
An investigation led to his arrest and subsequent charge.
- Rasbert Turner
Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.