St. Croix, V.I. – Attorney General Denise George announced that Ana M. Magras, Melanie Adames, Jamarie K. Grigg, and Flavel Magras were arraigned today in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on the formal criminal charges filed by the Attorney General against them.
The Criminal Information, (the formal charging document filed by the Attorney General for prosecution of the case), charges the Defendants with Attempted Murder in the First Degree (4 counts), Assault in the First Degree (4 counts), Discharging or aiming a firearm (4 counts), Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm (8 counts), Possession of Ammunition (8 counts) and Assault in the Third Degree (4 counts).
If convicted for Attempted Murder First Degree: As before, Murder First is imprisonment for life without parole, however Attempt, as outlined in Title 14 VIC 331(1) is 25 years. For Assault First Degree, the punishment is imprisonment of not more than 15 years. For Discharging or Aiming a Firearm, it is punished as a felony; a felony (as outlined in 14 VIC 2 (a)(1) is a crime or offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. For Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, they face Imprisonment of not less than 10 years, fine of not less than $10,000.00, nor more than $15,000.00, or both fine and imprisonment. For Possession of Ammunition, they face Imprisonment for up to 7 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both fine and imprisonment. For Assault Third Degree, the punishment is a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $3,000.00, or imprisonment not more than 5 years, or both.
According to the affidavit filed by Detective Michael Simmonds on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at approximately 5:40am, the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau along with local law enforcement officers executed a search and arrest warrant in Catherine’s Rest, Christiansted during Operation “Cool Out”. The warrant was issued by the Honorable Magistrate Judge Miguel A. Camacho on Friday, October 4, 2019, in reference to an attempted murder first degree. Upon entry, a shot was allegedly fired from inside the dwelling, striking one of the officers. The team was able to breach the dwelling and found four (4) adults; Flavel Magras, Jamarie K. Grigg, Ana M. Magras and Melanie Adames, along with 5 minor children inside. A search by officers of the dwelling also revealed guns and ammunition that were retrieved based on the search warrant.
At arraignment, the Defendants entered not guilty pleas to all the charges.
Attorney General George cautions the public that the criminal Information is a charging document, and the defendants are not guilty of the offenses charged unless or until they are proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30,2019
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov