John McCarthy
KINGSHILL — Superior Court Magistrate Judge Yolan C. Brow-Ross is scheduled to see two defendants in her courtroom in Estate Kingshill on St. Croix this morning:
Jaden Francis, 22, of Christiansted, is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing on a burglary charge, court records show, specifically 14 Virgin Islands Code (V.I.C.) § 922(a) First Degree Murder, specifying it applies to killings done with poison, lying in wait, torture, bomb detonation, or any other willful, deliberate, and premeditated act, as well as murders committed during felonies like arson, burglary, kidnapping, rape, robbery, mayhem, or assault. Francis also faces charges of first-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree assault, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Vernon Augustine “Pappy” Sackey Jr., 27, of Christiansted, is scheduled to appear for an advice-of-rights hearing after his arrest on a weapons charge, court records show, specifically 14 V.I. Code § 621 defines the crime of Brandishing, exhibiting, or using deadly weapons, which involves drawing or displaying a deadly weapon rudely, angrily, or threateningly in the presence of others, or using it unlawfully in a fight, outside of necessary self-defense. This statute falls under Chapter 31 (Disorderly Conduct) of Title 14 (Crimes) in the Virgin Islands Code.
Key Elements of the Crime:
- Action: Drawing, exhibiting, or unlawfully using a deadly weapon.
- Manner: In a rude, angry, or threatening way.
- Context: In the presence of two or more people.
- Exception: Not in necessary self-defense.
