Twenty-Year Sentence for Man Convicted of Sex Offenses with Young Boy

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – A 28-year-old has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sexual offenses against a young boy.

Basil McDonald faced up to life in priosn for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor of the same sex, but received 20 years.

He was also sentenced to a concurrent five year sentence for indecent assault.

Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns said that she hoped the sentence would serve as a deterrent to McDonald upon his release from prison and others considering committing similar crimes.

The Court heard that in 2019 and 2020 McDonald molested the son of a family friend. The victim was seven when the abuse began and it continued until he was nine.

According to the prosecution, McDonald moved in with the family in 2019 after he told them he needed a place to stay. He would often babysit his victim while his mother and older brother were out.

The mother put McDonald out in 2020 after she came home early and met him hugging her son while sitting on the bed.

The mother said she was suspicious, but her son never told her what had happened.

The matter was reported to police in 2023 after the boy told his teacher that a man called Basil had sex with him.