Mughot of Daniella Valera. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A female St. Croix resident is facing multiple charges after allegedly swinging a power drill at a male victim at his residence in front of witnesses.
The suspect, Daniella Valera, was charged with third-degree assault as a crime of domestic violence (DV), carrying or using a dangerous weapon, simple assault and battery/ DV, and unlawful entry.
Valera appeared via teleconference from the Bureau of Corrections before Judge Ernest Morris on Monday for her advisement hearing.
According to the fact sheet, on Saturday, July 24, a male victim reported that Valera came to his home to drop off some minors. The alleged victim stated that Valera entered his home without permission while shouting at him. He claimed that Valera struck him in the head and swung at him with a power drill that was in his home, thus inflicting scratches on his ribcage and shoulder and a contusion to the his head.
The fact sheet does not share what sparked the incident, from the alleged victim’s point of view, but it does from the suspect.
On Sunday, July 25, Valera told police during video interview at the Ancilmo D. Marshall Command Police Station that while she was at the alleged victim’s home, a female friend of the victim started to record her. She reported that when she tried addressing the issue with the victim, he ignored her and walked into the residence. It was then that she followed him into the home to continue the conversation.
Valera relayed that the alleged victim began pushing her back outside, and she pushed back. She grabbed the power drill, she said, to intimidate him. The suspect continued to say that she did not swing it at him. An adult male witness at the home only saw the alleged victim being attacked by Valera while she was wielding a power drill at the victim. However, he never saw the victim being struck, but did witness Valera entering the home without permission, the fact sheet said.
The prosecution and the defense agreed upon a $15,000 bail. Attorney Leslie Davis of the Office of the Territorial Public Defender requested that Valera post an unsecured bond of the $15,000; however, the prosecution, represented by Attorney Esther Walters, requested more surety either in the form of posting 10 percent plus one or a third-party custodian.
Judge Morris concurred with Attn. Walters and said, “She’s going to have to come up with some kind of security to ensure the court that she’s going to appear in court on every scheduled appearance date. The fact that her family resides in the Dominican Republic suggests that she may be a flight risk."
Considering that Valera would be unable to satisfy the proposed conditions by the prosecution, Attn. Davis requested that Valera post $100.
Judge Morris ordered that bail be set at $15,000 ($100 cash with a remaining unsecured bond) paid by close of business at the court by Wednesday. She must surrender her passport. Valera was also ordered to maintain a 1,000-foot distance from the victim.
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