Features

Bey delays plea in sex charge

Daily Planet Wire Service
Friday September 27, 2002

OAKLAND – A leader in Oakland's Nation of Islam community appeared briefly in Alameda County Superior Court this morning but did not enter plea to a charge that he allegedly molested a 13-year-old girl 20 years ago.  

Yusef Bey, 66, entered the courtroom with his attorney, Andrew Dosa of Alameda, and an entourage of about 20 young, African-American men dressed in suits and bow ties. 

Bey, wearing a black pinstriped suit, black bowtie and fez, did not enter a plea during his three-minute appearance before Judge Allan D. Hymer in Oakland. He also waived a reading in open court of the charge against him. 

The arraignment was put off for a week, until Oct. 3. 

A complaint filed Sept. 18 charges Bey with one felony count of committing lewd act on a child under 14 in September 1981. He surrendered to police on Sept. 19 and immediately posted $50,000 bail, police said. 

According to police, a woman approached the authorities in early June to report that Bey had allegedly molested her about 20 years ago. She told police that she was 13 when she gave birth to a child allegedly fathered by Bey in June 1982. 

DNA samples confirm that Bey is the child's father, police said. 

Following the brief appearance Thursday, the same cadre of young men whisked Bey out of the courtroom and down the hallway to an elevator. The men shielded Bey from about a half-dozen television cameras attempting to film him. 

In response to a reporter's request for comment, Bey raised an index finger and said, “No comment yet.” His attorney also declined to speak to reporters. 

Deputy District Attorney Teresa Ortega has been assigned to the case.