The Governor’s Office has received a letter from Andre Penn, the former legislator convicted in High Court on March 2 of three counts of buggery, seven counts of indecent assault and two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 13, Staff Officer Emma Dean confirmed Tuesday.

A copy of the letter, which proclaims Mr. Penn to be innocent, was received by the Beacon last Thursday.

The letter indicates that Mr. Penn will file an appeal challenging the verdict in his case and “at the appropriate time” file suit against police and other public officials “who converted uninvestigated allegations against me into charges which caused the case.”

Mr. Penn wrote, “I know that I am innocent of all charges.”

The letter also calls upon Governor Boyd McCleary to create “a commission of inquiry into how complaints to public officials about child abuse in the Virgin Islands are handled.”

Ms. Dean said Mr. McCleary is “considering what to do with” the letter.

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