Xavier Deshaun Jenkins: 35yo American to fight rape charge in Alice Springs Supreme Court

An American man who is set to go before a Red Centre jury to fight charges of alleged sexual offences has lost out on a bid to get closer to the town’s airport, a court has heard.

Alice Springs Supreme Court. Picture: Katie Hall

An American man who is set to go before an Alice Springs jury to fight charges of alleged sexual offences has lost out on a bid to get closer to the town’s airport, a court has heard.

Xavier Deshaun Jenkins, 35, has been charged with stupefying in order to commit offence, a single count of aggravated assault, and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.

It is understood he hails from Albany in the state of Georgia.

In a mention of his matter in Alice Springs on Thursday, Mr Jenkins’ lawyer, John Elferink told the court his client would be “contesting all of these charges”.

He told Judge Sarah McNamara he would like to see the trial happen “sooner”, while his client was “effectively stuck in Alice Springs”.

Mr Elferink tried to argue a variation to Mr Jenkins’ bail that would allow him to go closer to the Alice Springs Airport.

This was opposed by prosecutor James Moore.

Mr Moore told the court Mr Jenkins was a “significant flight risk”.

“The airport is a real concern for the Crown in light of what we contend is a significant flight risk,” he said.

Judge McNamara kept Mr Jenkins’ current bail conditions, which prohibit him from coming within a one kilometre radius of the Alice Springs Airport.

She committed the matter for trial in the Alice Springs Supreme Court.

Mr Jenkins’ matter will next be heard at a criminal call-over hearing on September 18.