Justice in Kingshill: VIPD ‘Wanted’ Suspects Face Superior Court Judge
COURT-BOUND: Dewayne Hendricks (left) and Joseph Ventura (right) appeared in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix today, April 28, 2026, for Advice of Rights hearings. Both men face charges of Simple Assault and Battery with Domestic Violence enhancements. The proceedings were held before the Honorable Christopher M. Timmons in Kingshill. (Credit: VIPD / St. Croix Sun)
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer
ST. CROIX — The wheels of justice turned early Tuesday morning in Room CR-216 of the Superior Court, as two men previously sought by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) appeared for their Advice of Rights hearings.
Presiding over the session, the Honorable Christopher M. Timmons addressed the charges against Dewayne Hendricks and Joseph Ventura, both of whom are facing counts related to domestic violence.
The Charges
Both defendants stand accused of:
Simple Assault and Battery (14 V.I.C. § 299)
Domestic Violence Enhancements (16 V.I.C. § 91)
These citations indicate that the alleged violence occurred within the context of a domestic relationship, a category of crime that the VIPD and the Department of Justice have increasingly prioritized in recent enforcement sweeps.
A Familiar Name on the Docket
The appearance of a Joseph Ventura on a criminal docket inevitably draws the minds of long-time residents back to the infamous 2001 "Lazee" Williams case—a brutal chapter of local history involving the torture and murder of a police officer. However, records indicate that the defendant in today’s hearing is a 34-year-old coconut vendor, distinct from the Jose Ventura currently serving life without parole for the 2001 crime.
Despite the difference in identity, this Ventura was the subject of a recent VIPD "Wanted" alert, as was his fellow defendant, Dewayne Hendricks. Both men were represented this morning by the Office of the Territorial Public Defender.
What's Next
During the Advice of Rights, Judge Timmons formally notified the men of the charges against them and their constitutional protections. The court will now move toward arraignment, where formal pleas will be entered.
