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 Child molestation trial begins this week web posted February 3, 2010  EDGEFIELD – A child molestation trial
began on Tuesday in which George Albert Jones, 43, is accused of
molesting a 7-year-old girl over a period of two years and passing
on a sexually transmitted disease in the process. He was arrested in
April of 2008 and has remained in custody ever since. Assistant
Solicitor Ervin Maye stated at the beginning of the trial that jurors
would be exposed to very disturbing evidence that would ultimately
convince them of the heinous acts leveled against Mr. Jones. Something
he described as the “ultimate betrayal” of the trust placed between and
adult and a child in his opening statements.As the trial got underway, the state called Dr. Beth Gordineer to the stand to testify to her first involvement in the case. Dr. Gordineer stated she became involved in the case when the mother of the young girl brought her to be examined for what was first believed to be a “urinary tract infection”. However, after antibiotics were administered the pain and discomfort continued. This led Dr. Gordineer to perform a full examination and later revealed the child was suffering from a sexually transmitted disease (STD). At that time, she testified, she was required to notify the Department of Social Services and Law Enforcement which launched the investigation that led to the arrest of Mr. Jones. Dr. Gordineer testified that the only way the transmission of the infection could take place was through sexual or very personal contact between Mr. Jones, who was later confirmed to have the same STD, and the child. Mr. Jones’ attorney, Adrian Falgione, countered in cross-examination that the STD could be passed by one person infected with the STD using a washcloth that was used by a second person, such as the victim in the case. “I have not seen a study to support that,” Dr. Gordineer replied. Dr. Gordineer testified that a 9-year-old child does not become infected with a sexually transmitted disease without some sort of physical or sexual contact and this was the first case she had encountered involving such a young child since she began her medical practice in 1993. She stated the manifestations of the initial outbreak of the disease was “very painful” to the young girl, prompting her mother to bring her to the doctor for treatment. The next witness to be called was the young victim who took the stand as her mother removed herself from the courtroom during the testimony. Assistant Solicitor Maye asked the young girl, now two years older, if she knew the difference between make-believe and reality. She stated yes. He asked her what her favorite cartoon character was and she responded “Sponge Bob Square Pants”. He asked if that was real and she replied no. He asked if the things that were alleged to have taken place between her and Mr. Jones was real or make-believe and she stated they were real. She testified that Mr. Jones would stay at the family home periodically and would sleep on the couch in the living room. After everyone was asleep, she said, Mr. Jones would come and take her from her bed and tell her to undress and lay on the couch and instructed her to hold a pillow over her head as he would perform sexual acts with her. According to the testimony, Mr. Jones was said to have made “penetration” on most occasions but would also perform other acts. The young girl said she could not say what was being inserted into her at the time of the attacks because she was made to hold the pillow over her face during the attacks. Solicitor Maye asked why she never told anyone about the attacks and she stated, “I was afraid”. Defense attorney Falgione asked the young girl if she could confirm that Mr. Jones was the one committing the acts against her since she had a pillow over her head at the time. She stated that she could not see whom or what was taking place other than feeling the activity, which she said “hurt”. During a cross examination Solicitor Maye asked, “Who did these things to you?” The young girl stated openly it was Mr. Jones and no one else. The next witness called to testify was Johnston Police Investigator Lamaz Robinson. He testified that he was contacted after the initial report by DSS. He interviewed the victim, her mother, family members, and Mr. Jones. After the investigation he sought a blood test to confirm the victim and Mr. Jones both suffered from the same STD. Defense attorney Falgione suggested that no one else, including family members or the girl’s mother, had been tested for the same STD. Inv. Robinson stated that was correct. He suggested that the young girl could have acquired the STD by using the same washcloth while bathing in the tub with her mother years prior to the alleged incidents described by the young girl. “She” the mother, “was not tested,” Falgione stated. “No,” Inv. Robinson replied. Later in the trial the defense challenged the “chain of custody” of the blood taken after a court order to confirm STD’s Mr. Jones had at the time. The defense requested that every person involved be required to testify in the case. The trial was suspended until 9:30 am today and is expected to end on Friday, as expert witnesses will take the stand later in the week. Circuit Court Judge William “Bill” Keesely reminded the jurors not to discuss the case or evidence with anyone and that if they were approached by anyone asking about the case to report such activity to the court. Unknown to the jurors is the fact that, according to court records, this is not the first sex crime Jones has been charged with. In October of 1994 Jones was charged with criminal sexual conduct with a minor in which he plead guilty in November of the same year to a lesser charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was sentenced to 30 days time served and placed on two years probation. Jones also faced a drug charge from October 13, of 2006 for possession of crack cocaine second offence. He was indicted on the charge by a grand jury in March of the previous year, court records show. © Copyright 2010
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