Crime

For Medical Reasons, Judge Orders Release Conditions Pending Extradition of St. Croix Man Wanted in Florida on Sexual Assault Charges

ST. CROIX — A Superior Court judge has ordered release conditions of Jose Angel Garcia — a St. Croix man wanted in the state of Florida for unlawful acts of sexually transmitted diseases and sexual acts against a minor — because of medical reasons, pending his extradition. Garcia, 36, appeared before Judge Ernest Morris Jr. Friday for his advisement hearing on a ‘fugitives from justice; duty of governor’ charge. According to the V.I. Department of Justice, Garcia had an outstanding arrest warrant in Marion County, Florida for engaging in unlawful sexual activity with a minor and unlawful acts of sexually transmitted diseases. The D.O.J. said the Florida arrest warrant has been pending since September 26, 2017.  Garcia was arrested on St. Croix at approximately 8:15 a.m. Thursday, the Department of Justice said. A few minutes earlier, according to the sworn testimony of Agent Gisselle Quinones of the D.O.J., officers went to his residence and did not find him there, suspecting he wa...