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New sex charges filed against Yusef Bey

The Associated Press
Friday November 15, 2002

OAKLAND — Alameda County prosecutors Thursday filed an expanded set of felony sex charges against Yusef Bey, a leader in Oakland's Nation of Islam community. 

An original complaint filed Sept. 18 charged Bey, 66, with a single felony count of committing a lewd act on a child under 14 in September 1981. He surrendered to police Sept. 19 and immediately posted $50,000 bail. 

The original charge arose after a woman, now 34, approached police in mid-June to report that she had given birth to a child, allegedly fathered by Bey, when she was 13. 

Bey had pleaded innocent to the original charge one month ago. 

However, an amended complaint filed Thursday charges Bey with 27 felony counts involving four alleged victims, according to Deputy District Attorney Teresa Ortega. 

The 27 counts include charges of lewd or lascivious conduct on a child under 14 by means of force or fear, and rape accomplished by means of force or fear. 

Bey, who appeared with about 20 supporters in suits and bowties in the Oakland courtroom Thursday, did not enter a plea to the charges. Bey, dressed in a suit, fez and bowtie, stood quietly with his back straight beside his attorney during the proceeding. 

The alleged crimes occurred between 1976 and 1995, Ortega said. Bey came in contact with the alleged victims through Your Black Muslim Bakery, of which he is the president and CEO. The complaint charges that Bey began alleged illicit sexual contact with the victims before they turned 14.  

Because of the new charges, Ortega asked Judge Allan D. Hymer to order Bey held without bail. The judge denied her request. Ortega then asked the judge to raise bail in the case to $1.6 million. 

Bey's attorney, Andrew Dosa of Alameda, told the judge that he did not believe that a substantial increase in bail was justified.