By PAVEL BAILEY
Tribune Staff Reporter
pbailey@tribunemedia.net
A 40-year-old bus driver was acquitted yesterday of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl who had been reported missing in Yamacraw Estates in 2023.
Antion Thompson remained silent but composed as a jury returned a 7–1 verdict of not guilty on the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.
After the verdict, Mr Thompson thanked Justice Dale Fitzpatrick, who presided over the trial, and was told he was free to go.
Mr Thompson was accused of having sex with the teenage girl — whose name is being withheld due to her age — at his home in Yamacraw on November 18, 2023. Throughout the trial, he maintained his innocence.
His defence claimed he merely gave the girl and her friend a ride on the day of the alleged incident. Thompson also said he did not know the complainant, only her friend.
Before the verdict, Mr Thompson’s attorney, Domek Rolle, told the jury that the complainant was a “problem child” and a known runaway. He noted she had been missing for two days at the time of the alleged incident.
The complainant’s teenage friend — also unnamed because she is a minor — testified that Thompson had sex with the complainant in exchange for a favour. Her mother was present for her testimony.
The witness said she met Mr Thompson through a friend two years ago and identified him in court, referring to him as “Reds”. She testified that she called Mr Thompson on the night in question to pick up her and the complainant. He arrived in a purple #15 bus. She said there was no party on the bus that night.
The court was shown a photo of Mr Thompson’s residence — a white house with green trim — and a picture of the bus parked outside.
She claimed the two girls spent the night at the house, which she described as “abandoned”, with only two beds and a couch, and no running water. She said they used a jug to freshen up the next morning.
According to the witness, she asked Mr Thompson to call a boy, whom she liked, offering to do “anything” if he did. She claimed Mr Thompson then told her and the complainant to undress and perform oral sex on each other. She alleged she saw Mr Thompson put his tongue on the complainant’s genitals before having sex with her.
During cross-examination, the witness said she had known the complainant for three years and considered her a best friend. She admitted visiting Mr Thompson’s house three or four times. When asked about the house being “abandoned”, she said it still had Mr Thompson’s belongings inside.
She denied Mr Rolle’s accusation that she was lying, insisting they boarded the bus at 11pm, not in the morning.
When asked why she didn’t call RJ herself, she said she had “pride” and preferred not to make the call.
Mr Rolle pressed her on why she remained in the room during the alleged sexual activity, accusing her of fabricating the story. The teen maintained she was telling the truth.
She denied claims that the ride had been arranged to meet boys or that she had taken other buses that day.
She testified that the boy eventually arrived after Mr Thompson called him, but said Mr Thompson pretended to have bus trouble as a cover.
She said the complainant performed oral sex on her while Mr Thompson watched, but denied returning the act. She said she dressed and moved to the other side of the bed while Mr Thompson allegedly had sex with the complainant.
The witness said Mr Thompson later drove them to a mechanic, then to KFC at Marathon Mall, before dropping them off around 3pm.
She said they then took a bus to Winton and got a ride from someone who saw them walking. She ignored her mother’s calls because she was afraid to go home after being out for so long.
She testified that she returned home around 7pm on November 19 and found her mother and her brother’s father waiting outside. Her mother reportedly told her they couldn’t come inside because a missing person alert had been issued for the complainant.
The girls went to the police station shortly after and filed a complaint against Thompson.
She confirmed her mother knew Mr Thompson but denied her mother had arranged the ride.
Director of Public Prosecutions Cordell Frazier led the prosecution.
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