John McCarthy
KINGSHILL — Superior Court Magistrate Judge Yolan C. Brow-Ross was scheduled to see five defendants in her courtroom in Estate Kingshill on St. Croix this morning:
Russel Matthews had an advice-of-rights hearing after his arrest this year on domestic violence assault charges, court records show, specifically 16 Virgin Islands Code § 91(b) does not define a single specific crime itself, but rather provides the legal definition of “domestic violence” by listing the underlying criminal acts that qualify as such when committed against a person with whom the perpetrator has a specific intimate or familial relationship.
The actual crimes are defined and prosecuted under Title 14 (Crimes) of the Virgin Islands Code. The classification of an act under Title 16, § 91(b) triggers specific legal procedures and potentially enhanced penalties.
The acts, attempts, or threats that constitute domestic violence under this section are:
- Assault
- Battery
- Burglary
- Kidnapping
- Unlawful sexual contact
- Rape
- Forcible or unlawful entry
- Coercion
- Destruction of property
- Harassment
- Threats
- False imprisonment
- Stalking
- Violation of a restraining order
For more information on these specific laws and related legal processes, you can refer to the full text of the US Virgin Islands Code Title 16, § 91 (2019) – Definitions or consult resources from the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands or the US Virgin Islands Department of Justice.
14 Virgin Islands Code § 299 defines the crime of Simple Assault and Battery, which involves committing a basic assault or battery without aggravating circumstances, punishable by a fine, jail time, or both. This offense falls under Title 14 (Crimes), Chapter 13 (Assault and Battery) of the U.S. Virgin Islands Code.
Key details about 14 V.I. Code § 299:
Context: Often cited in cases involving domestic violence or minor altercations.
Definition: Committing a simple assault or battery not accompanied by aggravating factors.
Penalty: Fines up to $250, imprisonment up to six months, or both.
Hezekiah Decaille had an advice-of-rights hearing after his arrest on drunk driving charges, court records show, specifically the crime defined by 20 Virgin Islands Code § 493(a) is Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of intoxicating liquors or controlled substances.
Relatedly, the statute makes it unlawful for any person to drive, operate, or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle within the territory while:
- Under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or a controlled substance.
- Having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more by weight.
