John McCarthy
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A federal Grand Jury handed down an indictment six days ago against a St. Thomas resident who failed to register as a sex offender here.
Jeffrey Cole, 57, of Ohio was indicted by a federal Grand Jury on February 21, U.S. Attorney Gretchen C.F. Shappert said.
Cole appeared in court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller where he entered a plea of not guilty, according to Shappert.
Cole’s trial date is scheduled for April 15.
According to the indictment and court records, Cole was convicted for “voyeurism” in the State of Ohio in 2009.
Cole moved to the State of Georgia where he registered as a sex offender. Cole relocated to the Virgin Islands in 2018, and failed to register.
Under federal law, Cole faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine.
Shappert said that an indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not in and of itself evidence of guilt.
“Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty,” she said.
This case is being investigated by the United States Marshal Service.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Everard Potter.
