NASSAU – A pervert has admitted to kissing a young girl on the lips and telling her that he liked her.
Vernal Munnings, 60, pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the 15-year-old when he appeared before Magistrate Shaka Serville for the start of his trial.
Munnings bail was revoked and he was remanded into custody pending his sentencing on Friday, November 5.
The offense carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment. However, it is unlikely that Munnings will receive the most severe penalty due to his guilty plea, age, and previously clean criminal record.
Defense attorney Alex Morley has asked the Court to consider sentencing Munnings to probation with court-ordered counseling.
The Court heard that on April 19 Munnings grabbed the girl by her neck and kissed her.
When she pulled away, the creep told her that he liked her.
After the unwanted smooch, the child ran to the neighbor’s house and called her mother.
Police arrested Munnings at the Criminal Investigation Department the following day.
The Court observed that Munnings knew his victim was a child, as he had known her for eight years.
Morley insisted that the offense was out of character for Munnings.
He said Munnings had worked at the Ministry of Education as a carpenter for 27 years and he had never been accused of improper conduct with a child.
Magistrate Serville has reserved his judgment to consider a fitting sentence for the child sex offender.
