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Police Officer Advised of Rights in Rape Charge

June 9, 2006 – Officer Allan Gregory Dawson's head hung low and his shoulders sagged as he was advised of his rights Friday on St. Thomas. Charged with aggravated rape in the second degree and child abuse for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl, Dawson listened as Detective Cleopatra Brooks of the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Bureau told the court what allegedly happened on the evening of May 9.
Second-degree rape charges indicate sexual relations with a minor.
Brooks, the arresting officer in the case, said she took Dawson, 47, into custody after the victim told police that Dawson had picked her up from her home after midnight on May 9, drove her to his house and had "sexual relations" with her.
"The victim then said that the officer told her not to tell anybody they had sex," Brooks added. "But one witness has also told us that they had seen Officer Dawson picking the victim up and dropping her home."
Brooks said the incident was reported on May 12 to the Department of Human Services by the principal of the Edith Williams Elementary School, after the victim told students what had allegedly transpired between her and Dawson.
"In addition the defendant's [Dawson's] son made contact with the victim via telephone and asked her what happened that night. She said, 'Yes, I'm having an affair with your father,'" Brooks said.
Brooks said that after the incident was reported, the victim was taken to the Schneider Regional Medical Center where she was treated. "A sexual assault kit was obtained at that time," Brooks said.
Dawson was arrested on June 8.
Defense attorney Arturo Watlington Jr. asked whether any psychological tests had been performed on the victim to determine "whether she had a propensity for not telling the truth."
He said that the tests should be performed because the victim was a "juvenile offender."
Prosecuting attorney Brenda Scales objected to Watlington's question. Presiding Judge Brenda Hollar said the objection was warranted because only a polygraph test could determine whether or not the victim was lying. "And a polygraph test is not allowed," she said.
However, under further questioning from Watlington, Brooks said that the victim is currently being held at the Youth Rehabilitation Center on St. Croix "due to the fact that she violated a court order which stated that she must remain at her home after 6 p.m."
"The Department of Human Services is supposed to be performing various psychological tests there," Brooks added.
After advising him of his rights, Hollar set Dawson's arraignment hearing for June 15, and bail at $60,000.
Watlington asked if the court would allow a piece of property belonging to Dawson's stepfather to be posted to secure bail. He said the land "might not be equal" to the full $60,000. Since Hollar seemed hesitant to grant the request, Watlington added that Dawson has served as a police officer for more than five years and is not considered to be a flight risk.
Hollar granted the request pending an appraisal of the property. She said Dawson would have to be released into the custody of a third-party custodian, and would have to report to a parole officer every Wednesday. "I also need a separate affidavit stating everything you said," Hollar said to Watlington. "Including the fact that he's not a flight risk."

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