Entertainer "Jesse Fyah" Fined for Sexual Offences; Crown Files Swift Appeal Over "Lenient" Sentence

Entertainer Harrison Horsford, widely known as “Jesse Fyah,” was ordered to pay a total of $8,000 in fines and compensation on Thursday following his conviction on two counts of sexual offences. However, the light sentence has triggered a swift pushback from prosecutors, who have already signaled their intent to appeal.

High Court Judge Justice Ann Marie Smith ordered Horsford to pay $5,000 in compensation to his victim for the offense of Serious Indecency, and a $3,000 fine to the State for Indecent Assault.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) immediately filed an appeal, arguing that the sentence is too lenient and that the judge failed to provide any explanation for departing from established sentencing guidelines. Under Antiguan law, both Serious Indecency and Indecent Assault carry maximum penalties of five years' imprisonment. (The maximum penalty for Serious Indecency rises to 10 years if the victim is a child).

The 2020 Darkwood Incident

According to court details, the convictions stem from an incident on October 27, 2020, involving a woman in her early twenties who shared a prior casual relationship with Horsford.

The victim testified that she accepted a ride from Horsford under the impression he was taking her home. Instead, Horsford drove her to the Darkwood area under the guise of meeting someone about a billboard. Once they arrived, no such meeting took place.

According to prosecutors, Horsford began making aggressive, unwanted sexual advances. When the victim resisted, he kissed her without her consent, grabbed her by the throat, exposed and touched her breasts, and forcibly touched her private area while claiming she "belonged" to him.

After she repeatedly demanded to be taken home, Horsford ordered her out of the vehicle and abandoned her on the side of the road. A passing motorist spotted the visibly distressed, crying victim clutching her clothes, picked her up, and drove her straight to the Johnson Point Police Station to report the assault.

Defendant’s Denials Rejected by Jury

During the trial, Horsford maintained his innocence, delivering an unsworn statement in which he claimed he only offered the woman a ride because it was raining. He alleged that they discussed employment opportunities before she asked him for $3,000. Horsford claimed that when he refused, he dropped her off, and only learned of the allegations later that night via a Facebook message.

A jury ultimately rejected his defense, taking less than an hour of deliberation in May to find him guilty on both counts. Horsford had been held behind bars since his conviction awaiting sentencing.

Judge Warns Against Entitlement

In handing down the sentence, Justice Smith took aim at the entertainer’s apparent attitude toward the victim, stating that Horsford seemed to believe the woman's perceived sexual history entitled him to treat her as he did. Justice Smith strongly rejected this premise, emphasizing that every woman has an absolute right to refuse sexual advances, and that her decision must always be respected.

Horsford was represented by defense attorney George Lake, while Crown Counsel Curtis Cornelius prosecuted the case on behalf of the state. The prosecution’s appeal will challenge the judge's decision to bypass custodial sentences in favor of monetary penalties.