Alleged child rapist granted bail on armed robbery charge
A 22-year-old man who is currently awaiting trial at the High Court on a child rape charge, was on Friday granted $150,000 bail after being charged with armed robbery. Reon Joseph of Wren Avenue, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was arraigned before Magistrate Rondel Weever at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Accused robber/child rapist Reon Joseph
He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on December 21, at Duncan Street, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed Dawn Jeffery of a 10-pennyweight gold chain, a Samsung phone, a shoulder bag, $40,000 in cash, and other items.
The Police prosecutor told the court that Jeffery was standing along Duncan Street when a white motor car, PVV 7709, pulled up in front of her. Joseph was the driver of the vehicle which had two other male occupants.
The court heard that one of the men exited the car and held the woman at gunpoint before relieving her of the articles.
The suspect then made good his escape in the waiting vehicle. The robbery was reported to the Police station and ranks trailed the motor car to Joseph’s home. He was the only occupant in the vehicle at the time and as such, he was arrested. At the time of his arrest, Police ranks recovered $5000 from him.
The prosecutor said that Joseph was positively identified by the virtual complainant. Police are currently on the hunt for the two other suspects who are reportedly teenagers. Joseph is due back in court on January 28, 2022.
In 2019, Joseph was committed to stand trial at the Demerara High Court for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl. At the time, it was reported that he was a serving member of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF).
It is alleged that between December 1 and December 31, 2017, at South Ruimveldt Gardens, Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with a child under the age of 16. He is out on $300,000 bail on this charge.
