Second Monday Arrest Highlights Growing Crisis of Sexual Violence

IN CUSTODY: Francisco Velasquez, 39, was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility on Monday after being charged with first-degree unlawful sexual contact. The arrest followed a report made at the Wilbur Francis Command station in Frederiksted. (Photo credit: Facebook/VIPD)

By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer

FREDERIKSTED — The Wilbur Francis Command Police Station became the site of a harrowing report on Monday afternoon as a woman walked in to describe a sexual assault that would lead to the day’s second major domestic-related arrest. The report, filed at approximately 1:05 p.m., triggered an immediate investigation by detectives into allegations of non-consensual contact and sexual violence.

Authorities subsequently arrested 39-year-old Francisco Velasquez, who now faces charges of first-degree unlawful sexual contact and first-degree unlawful sexual contact with a domestic violence enhancement. The swift nature of the arrest underscores the severity of the allegations, which describe a violation of personal autonomy and safety that local advocates say is becoming all too common in the territory.

Unlike other recent cases where bail was granted, Velasquez was remanded directly to the John Bell Correctional Facility. He remains in custody pending his advice of rights hearing, which is set to take place today, April 21, at the Superior Court. The judicial decision to hold Velasquez highlights the perceived risk and gravity of sexual assault cases within the USVI's legal framework.

For the community, the back-to-back arrests of Velasquez and Sheniqua Belardo-Mason serve as a stark reality check against the government's glossy infrastructure promises. As the "white elephant" of the Paul E. Joseph Stadium sits idle, the police stations of St. Croix are active with the fallout of human trauma—a disparity that continues to fuel calls for a radical shift in how the territory prioritizes its limited resources.