Crime

Venezuelan National Who Arrived In USVI Just Six Months Ago Facing Rape, Burglary Charges

ST. THOMAS — A recent transplant from South America is before the courts on charges including rape and burglary.  Police reports indicate that a St. John woman reported to the Leander Jurgen Command police station on the evening of January 23 to report that she had been sexually assaulted.She said that she had been bar-hopping the previous Thursday before being escorted to her home in Grunwald by two friends, one male. Around 2:00 a.m. on Friday, January 20, she awoke to find that “her male friend was on top of her trying to kiss her.” She also reported feeling pain in her “private areas,” and struggled to get the man off of her. He reportedly left when she ordered him to get out of her home.  A subsequent police investigation identified Jhonniel Tejada as the chief suspect. He was arrested on Wednesday, March 1 near the Leader Jurgen Command after a warrant was issued in his name. Tejada was then taken to the Richard N. Callwood Command police station where he was charged with first...