Crime

Friend of Alleged Rape Suspect Appears Before Court for Aiding and Abetting Charges

ST. CROIX — A St. Croix man who allegedly aided and abetted another man to commit an allegedly vicious rape crime was himself charged with multiple criminal offenses and appeared for his advisement hearing Monday. The suspect, Jahmanie G. Morton, was charged with disturbing the peace by fighting, first-degree burglary, aiding and abetting and third-degree assault, aiding and abetting as he was the accompanying friend of Stedroy Lloyd Francis, Jr., the suspect in the alleged rape and assault against a female victim on July 15.  Morton appeared before Jomo Meade via teleconference in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections on Monday for his advisement hearing.  Prosecuting attorney Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy argued that, according to the fact sheet, Morton told the victim, “This is your fault. You’re the one that caused this. You should have never opened your mouth,” while Francis was waiving the gun at the suspect and pointing it at her head and private part. Molyneaux-Molloy said th...