Disability rights advocates are calling for a retrial and tougher sentencing after a man was given just two years in prison for raping a 14-year-old girl with a developmental disability.
Durquan Yearwood was convicted in November 2024 for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. The incident occurred in January 2022, when the girl, described as functioning below her age level due to learning and developmental delays, was found inside Yearwood’s apartment.
According to reports presented in court, the child was seen adjusting her clothing when a person searching for her arrived at the apartment. The full details later emerged after her siblings were overheard speaking about the incident, prompting a confrontation with her mother.
Despite Yearwood initially denying the allegations, a jury found him guilty. The law provides for a maximum sentence of 10 years for the offence, but Yearwood was sentenced to two years.
The Antigua and Barbuda Association of Disabled People says the sentence sends a dangerous message about how the justice system views crimes against persons with disabilities.
“He raped a child with an intellectual disability,” said disability rights advocate Joshua Net Francis.
“She could not fully understand what was happening to her. And he only got two years. That is a disgrace.”
Francis, who has long campaigned for justice reform, described the outcome as a “blatant disregard for the lives and dignity of people with disabilities.”
“A child cannot consent. A disabled child is even more vulnerable,” she said. “This judgment tells us we are not seen. We are not heard.”
Bernard Warner, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Disabled People, also expressed deep disappointment with the court’s ruling.
“The system has failed this child. It has failed every disabled person in Antigua,” Warner said. “She was raped, and the courts handed down a sentence that does not reflect the brutality or the long-term trauma of the crime.”
Warner also pointed to what he described as disparities in sentencing. He referenced another case involving a half-brother of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who was sentenced to over 20 years in prison for raping two minors.
“How can you explain such a short sentence in this case? The victim here is disabled, and Yearwood had access to her through his connection to a special needs centre,” Warner said. “This was an abuse of trust and power.”
The Association is now planning a public protest and is demanding a retrial.
“We will rally the public in the coming weeks,” Warner announced. “This isn’t political. It’s about standing up for the most vulnerable. This girl deserved better.”
The case has renewed public scrutiny of how the justice system handles sexual offences involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Advocates argue that, despite existing legal protections, enforcement and sentencing often fall short.
Global studies show that people with disabilities are significantly more likely to be victims of sexual violence. Yet campaigners say their cases are often downplayed in court.
“Are we telling victims to stay silent? Because this judgment suggests that even when you speak out, justice won’t come,” said Francis.
Both Francis and Warner are urging the Director of Public Prosecutions to review the matter and explore the legal options available.
