ST.CROIX, U.S.V.I. – Attorney General Denise George announced that Augustus Abraham Martin was arraigned today in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on the formal criminal charges filed by the Attorney General against him in the death of Jeremie E. St. Rose on Nov. 10, 2019.
ST.CROIX, U.S.V.I. – Attorney General Denise George announced that Augustus Abraham Martin was arraigned today in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on the formal criminal charges filed by the Attorney General against him in the death of Jeremie E. St. Rose on Nov. 10, 2019.
In the early morning hours of Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 members of the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), armed with a warrant, arrested Martin. According to an affidavit, on Sunday, Nov. 10, at approximately 11:14pm, the 911 emergency call center dispatched officers to a concerned citizen’s report of a vehicle being stopped in the middle of the Southside Road (Hwy 62), south of Sally’s Fancy Road with a male leaning out of the driver’s door motionless and bleeding from the head. Emergency medical technicians arrived on scene and confirmed that the victim had no vital signs and appeared to have sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The victim’s body was transported to the Juan F. Luis Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:50am. He was later identified as 19-year-old Jeremie E. St. Rose of Christiansted.
The Criminal Information, which is the formal charging document filed by the Attorney General for prosecution of the case, charges the Defendant with First Degree Murder, First Degree Assault, Unauthorized Possession of A Fireman During the Commission of a Crime of Violence, Assault in the Third Degree, Possession or Sale of Ammunition, Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree and Discharging or aiming a firearm.
If convicted for Murder in The First Degree, the defendant faces imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life without parole. The other penalties are as follows: If convicted for first degree assault, he faces imprisonment of not more than 15 years. For unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence there is a fine of $25,000.00 and imprisonment of not less than 15 years. For Assault Third degree he faces a fine of not less than $500.00 and not more than $3,000.00 and imprisonment of not more than 5 years or both. For Possession or Sale of Ammunition, the defendant faces imprisonment for up to 7 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or both. For Reckless Endangerment First Degree, he faces imprisonment not exceeding 5 years. For discharging or aiming a firearm he faces imprisonment not exceeding 5 years.
AG George said this arrest is an indication of the close working relationship between the V.I. Department of Justice and the V.I. Police Department. “Both departments remain committed to presenting the legal and factual basis for a judge to issue warrants of arrest for those individuals who choose to terrorize our community”. She reminds the public that the criminal Information is a charging document, and the defendant is not guilty of the offenses charged unless or until proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2019
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340)774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: Sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov