The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was represented by defence attorney Larry Mussenden in Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He was charged for alledged offences between September 1 and September 30.

The defendant was released on $2,000 bail with two sureties and ordered to have no contact with the child, her parents or guardians. He will be tried in Magistrates' Court in early April.

VISITOR CHARGED IN SEX ASSULT CTS Visitor charged in sex assault A New York man has been charged with a sexual assault in Hamilton Parish on Friday.

The 28-year-old appeared in Magistrates' Court on Monday but was not required to enter a plea as the matter must be dealt with in Supreme Court.

The accused, a carpenter from Brooklyn, was remanded in custody pending an appearance for mention in Plea Court on April 2.

MAN FACES 24 DRUGS CHARGES CTS Man faces 24 drugs charges An alleged drug importer was charged with 24 drug offences on Monday in Magistrates' Court.

Kurt Randolph Simmons, 34, of Rockville Lane in Pembroke is charged with conspiracy to import, importing, possession and handling heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, cannabis, cannabis resin and Ecstasy in St. George's.

The charges arise from incidents which occurred between December 1, 2000 and March 11, 2001.

Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King warned Simmons that the offences were of a "serious'' nature and advised Simmons to get a lawyer.

Since the charges are indictable, Simmons must enter his plea in Supreme Court.

The Magistrates' Court, or lower court, proceedings are a legal requirement at which the lawyers select inquiry methods.

Mr. King remanded Simmons into custody, and said: "The number and seriousness of these charges convince me that bail should not be granted.'' Simmons will appear for mention in plea court in April.

He also pleaded not guilty to possessing heroin in August 1999 and will be tried in Magistrates' Court on May 18 this year.

Bail was set at $500.

PEMBROKE MAN CHARGED WITH HAVING UNLAWFUL CARNAL KNOWLEDGE CTS Pembroke man charged with having unlawful carnal knowledge A 27-year-old Pembroke man has been bailed after appearing for mention on charges of having unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 14 in Sandys between October 10 and November 7 last year.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was released on $1,000 bail with one like surety and will reappear on April 5 in Plea Court.

ST. DAVID'S MAN TOLD TO PAY FINES OR DO TIME CTS St. David's man told to pay fines or do time Clerks would not take his money, claimed a man whose overdue court fines landed him back in Magistrates' Court on Monday morning.

Carlton Minors, 50, of Great Bay Road, St. David's, said the clerks stopped taking his money and he could not finish paying his $3,400 fine.

"They would not take partial payment,'' Minors told acting Senior Magistrate Edward King.

Minors' son, who was in the courtroom, pledged to pay $450 in addition to the $600 Minors had at the Police station -- where he spent the night in custody.

Minor's managed to pay all but $1,680 when the clerks stopped taking partial payments last year.

But Mr. King demanded the money immediately: "I want all of this money.'' The father and son teamed up and assured Mr. King the remaining money could be paid by Friday.

Mr. King made the son sign a $500 bail to release his father from Police custody and gave the pair until Friday to pay the remainder.

MAGISTRATE SAYS LATE FINES ARE NO JOKING MATTER CTS Magistrate says late fines are no joking matter A St. David's man accused the acting Senior Magistrate of "joking with my life'' during Monday morning's Plea Court session.

David Ottley, 46, pointed his finger at acting Senior Magistrate Edward King, who had just ordered Ottley's imprisonment for overdue fines.

Ottley, of St. Luke's Lane in St. David's, was brought into court for $500 in unpaid fines.

Initially, Ottley was calm as he explained someone told him they paid the fines as he had instructed.

"I guess I'll just have to pay again,'' said Ottley, shrugging his shoulders.

But Ottley raised his voice when Mr. King sentenced him to prison after he explained he could pay the $500 on Friday, "but not now''.

Ottley said: "You're going to make me lose my job for this! I can give you the money on Friday.

"I was under the impression that the money was paid. The person told me it was paid. I didn't know it wasn't paid and now you're joking with my life,'' he added.

Mr. King quietly said: "I'm not joking, I'm deadly serious.'' SPEEDER TOLD IT'S NOT THE SYSTEM CTS Speeder told it's not the system Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King said Monday all young black males should "come to court and see the foolishness.

"It isn't the system that's at fault -- it's your system,'' Mr. King said in low tones after 18-year-old Ewart Lambert pleaded guilty to four traffic offences.

Lambert, of Salt House Lane, Hamilton Parish, was fined $805 for three counts of speeding and disobeying a traffic sign.

He was caught speeding at 58 kph on September 15, 2000 and was caught at the same speed on March 22 this year.

Mr. King said: "Your speedometer is stuck,'' before fining Lambert $215 for each count.

Lambert was also fined $150 for disobeying a traffic sign at the junction of King Street and Church Street as well as $225 for speeding at 60 kph on March 9 of this year.

Lambert asked for time to pay because he was a student, but Mr. King said his parents could pay.

"In my day you couldn't go to court and have a nice time at school,'' Mr.

King said. "The school would kick you out. You couldn't disgrace it. The truth hurts, that's why a lot of people don't like to hear me.'' Lambert said he was a part-time computer repairman and made anywhere from $100 to $400 a week.

Mr. King asked if he had called Bill Gates, the Microsoft computer firm CEO and multi-billionaire.

The court laughed as Mr. King added: "He's in the right field.'' Lambert was given until April to pay the fines in total.

SLATE OF TRAFFIC OFFENCES ADD UP TO $1,400 FINE CTS Slate of traffic offences add up to $1,400 fine A man walked away from Magistrates' Court with $1,400 in fines recently after failing to stop for Police on December 13 of last year.

Dalante Hodsoll, 26, of Wellington Slip Road pleaded guilty to riding an unlicensed motorcycle, having no third-party insurance and failing to stop for Police.

Hodsoll denied charges of dangerous driving and will face trial at the end of March.

Acting Senior Magistrate Edward King fined Hodsoll $150 for failing to stop, $250 for riding an unlicensed motorbike and $1,000 for having no third-party insurance.

He was given until June 30 to pay the $1,000, April 12 to pay the $250 and March 30 to pay the $150.