Violence dominates St. Croix criminal court calendar

By St. Croix Sun Staff

KINGSHILL — The $32 million price tag for the unfinished Paul E. Joseph Stadium was measured Tuesday not in concrete and rebar, but in a Superior Court docket dominated by domestic and sexual violence.

While the "shadow" stadium remains a skeletal ruin in Frederiksted after twelve years of delays, Judge Yolan C. Brow Ross presided over a morning calendar that reflected the island's actual infrastructure crisis: a judicial system straining under the weight of felony assaults and sexual crimes.

Leading the Advice of Rights hearings was 39-year-old Francisco Velasquez, who was remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility on charges of first-degree unlawful sexual contact. His arrest followed a Monday report at the Wilbur Francis Command station where a female victim alleged a non-consensual sexual assault.

The court then addressed the case of Sheniqua Belardo-Mason, 36, who is accused of the second-degree assault of a minor. Police records indicate the child sustained visible injuries requiring hospital treatment before Belardo-Mason was released on a $1,000 bond.

The morning’s violence continued with Matthew Gregg, facing third-degree assault charges, and Melissa Ann Cunningham, a fugitive from justice appearing under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act.

For the people of Frederiksted, the "price" of the stadium is the $32 million that didn't go toward securing their streets or protecting their children. As the government continues to chase a sports-tourism ghost, the physical and social safety of the community remains the collateral damage.

Domestic Violence Cases

⦿ Francisco Velasquez (SX-2026-CR-00106): Facing Advice of Rights for First Degree Unlawful Sexual Contact and the Domestic Violence enhancement.

⦿ Sheniqua Belardo-Mason (SX-2026-CR-00107): Appearing for Advice of Rights regarding the second-degree assault of a minor and DV charges.

Other Court Cases

⦿ Matthew Gregg (SX-2026-CR-00105): He is appearing for an Advice of Rights under 14 V.I.C. 296, which is Assault in the Third Degree. This is a new name not in your current reports; it would be worth seeing if this was another "unshared" VIPD arrest or a separate peace officer involved incident.

⦿ Melissa Ann Cunningham (SX-2026-CR-00103): Her hearing is listed as 5 V.I.C. 3802, which typically involves probation violations or conditions of release