A Region Three man has been sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment, formally adding his name to Guyana’s list of convicted sex offenders after a High Court jury found him guilty of attempting to rape a four-year-old child.
Ganesh Lewis, 46, of Essequibo Islands–West Demerara, was convicted under the Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 8:03, following a unanimous verdict returned by a Demerara jury before Acting Chief Justice Navindra Singh.
The sentence was handed down on Wednesday after the court set a starting point of 20 years.
This was reduced by five years based on a favourable probation report and increased by three years due to the extreme youth of the victim and Lewis’ lack of remorse, resulting in a final term of 18 years’ imprisonment.
As Lewis remained on bail throughout the proceedings, no time was deducted.
Lewis had faced two indictments: rape of a child under 16 and the alternative count of attempted rape. While the jury acquitted him of the rape charge, it found him guilty of attempted rape, resulting in his classification as a sex offender.
The conviction stems from an incident on August 2, 2022, at a shed attached to a barbershop in Region Three.
Evidence presented by the prosecution revealed that a resident observed Lewis and the child in a compromising position, with both having their pants down.
The witness intervened and questioned Lewis, who then left the location with the child.
Relatives of the child, who were familiar with Lewis as a close family acquaintance, reported the matter to the police shortly after. Lewis was arrested on August 4, 2022, and denied the allegations.
In his defence, Lewis claimed he had been asleep at home when the child called out to him and said the encounter was misunderstood, stating that he merely lifted the child from a stool inside the barbershop.
The prosecution rejected this account, contending that the barbershop was closed at the time and that Lewis could not have heard the child from his residence.
Lewis was formally charged on January 27, 2023, and following a preliminary inquiry, was committed to stand trial on September 21, 2024, after a magistrate ruled that a prima facie case had been established.
Lewis was represented by attorney-at-law Ronald Bostwick. The prosecution was led by attorney Simran Gajraj, with attorneys Christopher Belfield and Geneva Wills assisting.
