Court allows American Xavier Deshaun Jenkins to travel to Victoria as he fights rape charges in the NT

An American man who a court previously heard was considered a ‘flight risk’, is now being allowed to travel interstate. Find out where he’s going.

Xavier Deshaun Jenkins leaves Alice Springs Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A Northern Territory supreme court has allowed an American man fighting rape charges to embark on a 12-day interstate trip – which his defence lawyer says is to see his family.

Xavier Deshaun Jenkins, 35, was granted a bail variation by registrar Sally Bolton in the Alice Springs Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 2, which allowed him to travel to the Victorian capital for 12 days.

Mr Jenkins has been charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, one count of stupefying in order to commit offence, and one court of aggravated assault.

Reading out the varied bail conditions, Registrar Bolton said Mr Jenkins would travel to Melbourne from October 9 to 21.

Mr Jenkins’ defence lawyer John Elferink sought the variation so his client can “travel to see his daughter”.

Xavier Deshaun Jenkins leaves Alice Springs Supreme Court on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Picture: Gera Kazakov

“He hasn’t seen (her) for the best part of a year,” Mr Elferink said.

“His family, and particularly his seven-year-old daughter, (are) coming to Melbourne.”

Prosecutor Dan Payne said he “was under instructions to agree with the bail variation”.

His approved bail variations allow him to visit a domestic airport, but he cannot “attend any court or institution which can facilitate international travel,” Registrar Bolton said.

Mr Jenkins’ previous bail arrangements stopped him from going within a 1km radius of any airport.

Xavier Deshaun Jenkins enters Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

This masthead understands Mr Jenkins has surrendered his passport.

Mr Jenkins was not at the Supreme Court when his bail was varied.

Mr Elferink said he would get his client “to come back to the court to sign the new bail”.

Before he was committed to the Supreme Court, Mr Jenkins was labelled a “significant flight risk” by prosecutor James Moore, at an August 22 preliminary examination mention in the Alice Springs Local Court.

At that mention, Mr Elferink said his client would be “contesting all of these charges”.

No trial date has been set for Mr Jenkins, with Registrar Bolton adjourning the matter to October 16 for a criminal call-over in the Alice Springs Supreme Court.