By Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

Although George Dixon, of Bridgeview, St. Catherine made it clear to the jury he was not a minister of religion. That did not prevent the jury from convicting him of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.

The Crown represented by Sharon Barnes, Crown Counsel, led evidence that on June 23 this year, Dixon took a 13-year-old girl who lived in his community to a lonely spot in the area. He had sexual intercourse with her and gave her $1,000.

A few days after the incident, the girl's mother found out and confronted Dixon. He gave the girl's mother $1,500 to take the girl to the doctor. A report was made to the police and the money was used as an exhibit in the case.

In his defence, Dixon denied committing the offence. He said he was not a minister of religion and was only a member of a Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The seven-member jury convicted Dixon of carnal abuse.

Miss Justice Ingrid Mangatal has put off sentencing until Monday in the St. Catherine Circuit Court.