KINGSHILL — A St. Croix man faces a possible life sentence if convicted in the aggravated rape of an 11-year-old girl in his own household, authorities said.
Miguel Angel Llanos, 34, of Mon Bijou, was arrested at 10:06 a.m. Tuesday and charged with child abuse; first-degree aggravated rape, domestic violence; and first-degree unlawful sexual contact, domestic violence. the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Llanos reportedly sexually assaulted an 11-year-old female on October 19,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said.
A woman filed a report on October 21 that Llanos had sexually assaulted her daughter in Christiansted, court records indicate.
The girl told police that Llanos took pictures of her bare chest and used his hand to sexually assault her on October 19, court documents say.
The girl also stated that she was terrified during the assault and is afraid of Llanos, court records indicate. Her mother told police Llanos is a violent man and possibly armed with a handgun.
Assistant Virgin Islands Attorney General Jasmine Griffin asked Superior Court Magistrate Judge Miguel Camacho to set bail at $15,000 cash.
Judge Camacho said he was concerned for the girl’s safety based on the allegations described in court documents. He noted that Llanos is facing a possible life sentence if convicted of aggravated rape.
Territorial Public Defender Leslie Davis put on the record that territorial bail laws unfairly discriminate against low-income Virgin Islanders who might not have access to cash. Davis said the properties they hold might be undervalued.
Still, Judge Camacho set bail for Llanos at $30,000 “fully secured.” In order to be released from jail, Llanos would have to post $30,000 cash, or twice that amount in property.
Llanos was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections pending further court proceedings.