The Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM.
ST. THOMAS — A man arrested at the Cyril E. King Airport over the weekend on charges of being a fugitive from justice has challenged the California warrant that led to his detention.
David Michael Smith, age 57, was arrested last Saturday afternoon at CEKA as he was about to board a JetBlue flight to Puerto Rico. Customs and Border Protection officials detained him after they were notified of an active arrest warrant issued by the Sonoma County Superior Court. Bail was set at $50,000 according to the warrant, and Smith was remanded into custody until he appeared before Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull.
During Monday's extradition hearing, Smith challenged the warrant for his arrest for the alleged offenses of burglary, vandalism, damaging power lines, and contempt of court. He claimed, through his counsel, that the warrant contained “misinformation” and thus he would not waive extradition.
Bail for Smith was maintained at $50,000. Should he meet the requirements to be released from detention ahead of the hearing, Smith will be placed on house arrest and monitored electronically. Judge VanHolten-Turnbull gave defense counsel 30 days to prepare for the challenge to the warrant, and set a status hearing on the matter for January 22, 2026.
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