by Rasbert Turner, Star Writer

spanish town

A Minister of Religion who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl two years ago, was sentenced in the supreme court to four years hard labour on February 16, when he appeared on carnal abuse charges.

He is Orane Ellis, 24, a former pastor attached to the Banister Church of God in St. Catherine.

Justice Ingrid Mangatal handed down Ellis' sentence after he had pleaded guilty in the St Catherine Circuit Court in January this year.

Before the sentence was passed, Ellis's attorney Sean Kinghorne, told the judge that his client had fallen short of the faith and trust that was placed in him as a pastor. He added that with a young wife to return to, Ellis should receive a sentence that would allow him to redeem himself after a while.

In handing down her judge-ment, Justice Mangatal said she was considering a seven year. But, because he did not waste the court's time when he pleaded guilty, she sentenced him to four years imprisonment.

She also chided him for taking advantage of the child, knowing that she was already a victim in need of his care and protection when the incident took place.

The crown led evidence that on October 31, 2005, Ellis sexually molested the 14-year-old girl who was a ward at a children's home near a church.

He is said to have fondled the child, then sexually assaulted her. Other girls were assaulted during the incident. However, that aspect is yet to be tried in the Old Harbour RM Court.

Several persons who gave the court character evidence on how the pastor was raised in the church cried openly after the sentence was handed down.