Mugshot of Jahkoy Mulraine. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — A man accused of getting violent after being called out for groping a woman now faces a slew of felony charges before the courts.
Last Saturday afternoon, police were dispatched to the Deli Bank Bar in reference to an assault. A woman, her minor children, and the woman’s friend had all been seated outside the establishment. The two adults were having a conversation when a man approached one of the women and touched her inappropriately.
The woman asked her friend to speak to this unknown man because she did not speak fluent English. She wanted to tell the stranger not to be “fresh,” since she did not know him “like that.”
Upon being called out for his behavior, the man – later identified as Jahkoy Mulraine – reportedly flew into a rage, threatening to retrieve a firearm from his vehicle and kill everyone there. Mulraine is said to have gone to his vehicle and returned to continue his verbal assault towards the mother of the minor children before pushing her on the shoulder.
The woman raised her hand to ward off Mulraine, but he reportedly then began to punch her in the face repeatedly until she lost consciousness briefly. He only stopped when bystanders intervened to pull him off of the woman, who had to be taken to the emergency department of the Schneider Regional Medical Center for medical attention.
The woman was found to have suffered lacerations to her left thumb and left eye, and her left eye socket had been fractured under the force of the blows she received.
On Tuesday July 18, the woman was able to provide police with a video statement of her ordeal. During the interview, she identified Mulraine as her assailant via a photograph posted on the V.I. Police Department’s Facebook page. She also told police that the brutal assault had left her numb on the left side of her face, due to the injuries she sustained.
The woman who had been groped also gave police a statement, confirming the account of her friend and also identifying Mulraine based on the VIPD photo.
The investigating officer ultimately found enough probable cause to charge Mulraine with third-degree assault, simple assault, disturbance of the peace and mayhem.
A warrant for Mulraine’s arrest was issued on July 20, and he was picked up by police on the same day, with bail initially set at $75,000.
During his advice of rights hearing before Magistrate Judge Paula Norkaitis, bail was reduced to $50,000, which must be fully secured before Mulraine will be allowed on pre-trial release.
If he is able to secure bail, Jahkoy Mulraine will be required to report to the probation office once a week via telephone. He has also been banned from Munshens Market and will have to abide by an 11:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily curfew.
His next court appearance is scheduled for August 4th.
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