Man accused of having sex with preteen boys

Tue, Oct 4th 2011, 11:43 AM

As an angry mob gathered outside the courtroom of Magistrate Carolyn Vogt-Evans yesterday, she remanded an accused pedophile to prison for his protection.
Kofhe Eduardo Goodman, 36, of Yorkshire Drive and High Vista, appeared in court for an arraignment on charges that he had sex with two 12-year-old boys earlier this year.
Goodman, who was freed from prison last year on an attempted murder charge, was not required to plead to the charges.
Prosecutors allege that he abducted a 12-year-old boy on August 17, 2011 and had sex with him.  He is accused of having sex with another 12-year-old on March 12, 2011.
Goodman, who is better known as Elvardo Ferguson, was convicted of unnatural sexual intercourse in 1993, the court heard.
The prosecution objected to bail for Goodman, saying that he was the subject of a pending investigation and he had a prior conviction for a similar offense.
By contrast, Goodman's lawyer, Tecoyo Bridgewater, said that his client was presumed innocent and that his past should not be used against him.
He said the convictions were spent and that Goodman was now reformed.
Bridgewater said Goodman wanted to continue being a productive member of society.
Bridgewater also said that Goodman, the father of a 14-year-old son, feared for his safety if remanded to prison.
After considering the arguments, Vogt-Evans said, "He is perhaps safer confined where he can be monitored daily at Her Majesty's Prison (HMP).  I will make an order that he's kept in isolation."
Goodman returns to court on December 16 for a status hearing.  At that time, the court will learn whether a preliminary inquiry will be held into the charges.
Police stepped up their presence for the arraignment but they still struggled to control the emotional crowd.  The crowd tried to rush the police van used to transport Goodman to the prison.
The family of 11-year-old Marco Archer, whose remains were found behind an apartment complex on Yorkshire Drive on September 28 five days after he went missing from his Brougham Street community, was part of the crowd.
His family confronted police for not telling them about the arraignment and claimed the same indifference to his disappearance may have cost his life.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian

 Sponsored Ads