(U.S. Virgin Islands)- V.I. Attorney General Denise George has announced that a St. Thomas Superior Court jury found 39-year-old Devindra Jaglal guilty of Second Degree Assault and Simple Assault on May 26th after he imprisoned a woman against her will in 2020. Jaglal faces up to 10 years in prison for his crimes.
Jury Selection began on May 23, 2022. Jaglal was charged in a three-count information for the following crimes: (1) False Imprisonment; (2) Second Degree Assault and (3) Simple Assault. The matter was submitted to the Jury for deliberations around noon on May 26th and the jury returned a verdict shortly before 4:00 p.m.
The Defendant was found not guilty of committing the crime of False Imprisonment but found Guilty of committing the remaining crimes, Second Degree Assault and Simple Assault. For the Crime of Second Degree Assault, the Defendant faces up to 10 years imprisonment and for simple assault, he faces up to 1 year. Virgin Islands Department of Justice (VIDOJ) Criminal Division Chief Quincy McRae, and Assistant Attorney General Kimberly Riley, represented the People.
They were assisted by V.I. Police Department (VIPD) Officer Khalil Tatum. The prosecution team proved to the jury that on November 15, 2020, Jaglal restrained a woman in a hotel room while physically assaulting her. According to an Affidavit, police received a call from a hotel guest about a woman screaming for help. Police officers were dispatched to the location of the hotel. Upon arrival, they observed the woman with bruises about her body and redness to her neck. The victim indicated that Jaglal is her boyfriend and stated that they live together in Florida.
The victim told the officers that she was afraid to speak to them for fear that Jaglal will kill her. The individual who called 911 stated that he was staying next door to Jaglal’s room and heard the screaming. He recorded the screaming with his cellphone and while doing so, Jaglal came outside on the balcony and confronted him. He said Jagla told him to mind his own business. The individual then told Jaglal he was going to call the police, to which Jaglal replied, “call the police”. Jaglal was subsequently placed under arrest. After the verdict, the Defendant was given 2 hours to collect his belongings before reporting to the V.I. Bureau of Corrections (BOC) to await Sentencing, which is set for June 30, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2022
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340)774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: Sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov