He wore blue velvet…? Seven fined for cross-dressing

Seven men, who were found dressed in female’s clothing, were each ordered to pay a court fine of $7,500 when they appeared yesterday before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Anthony Bess, Joseph Fraser, Joshua Peters and Seyon Persaud all pleaded guilty to the charge of dressing in female’s attire and damage to property. Fraser pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of larceny from the person. Meanwhile, Quincy Mc Ewan, Seon Clarke and Leon Conway all pleaded not guilty to the charge of dressing in female’s attire and loitering.

Leon Conway
Leon Conway
Seyon Persaud
Seyon Persaud

It is alleged that on February 6, the seven men were all dressed in female’s clothing. According to them, it was “unisex” clothing. It is also alleged that on the same day Bess, Fraser, Peters and Persaud damaged the trunk of Steve Donlop’s bus, costing $12,000and that on the same day Fraser stole a cell phone valued $90,000 from Donlop.

However, Bess stated that on the day in question they were not wearing female clothing but “unisex” clothing. He said that on the day in question he was wearing a jeans, a designer top and a hooded over coat.

While Peters stated that he was wearing a “skirt with a designer top.” Fraser then stated that he was wearing a “black dress with green designs” while Persaud stated that he was wearing a “short skirt with a red designer top.”

Joshua Peters
Joshua Peters
Anthony Bess
Anthony Bess

When asked by the magistrate what they were doing dressed as such they stated that they were on their way to a party. They all informed that court that they were unemployed because no one wanted to give them a job.

Donlop stated that on the day in question several boys were interfering with Bess, Peter, Fraser and Persaud. He said that shortly after the boys started to pelt bottles towards the four men who fled the area. Fraser had ran inside Donlop’s bus for cover and when Donlop had instructed the boys not to damage his bus with the glass bottles, Fraser snatched his cell phone as he was about to call the police. Donlop later made a report to the police station and the four men were arrested and later charged.

Seon Clarke
Seon Clarke

They seven men stated that they were a family and that they behave the way they do because they were born like that and that it makes them feel nice. The magistrate then informed them that they were confused about their sexuality and that they were men.

The magistrate subsequently ordered that seven men pay a fine of $7,500 each for dressing in female’s clothing. She then ordered that Bess, Fraser, Peters and Persaud pay $2,000 court cost for the damage to property charge while she dismissed the case involving the cell phone against Fraser since Donlop had received another cell phone from “another family member.”