Mugshot of David Schaffner. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A man on St. Thomas who is known to be homeless and frequents the Savan area was identified via video surveillance as one of two burglars who robbed Island Linen Department Store located on Kronprinsdsens Gade on Saturday. The other suspect was not identified and remained at large as of Monday.
David Schaffner appeared before Magistrate Judge Henry Carr, III via teleconference from the Bureau of Corrections on Monday for his advisement hearing.
Schaffner was charged with unlawful entry and petit larceny as an aider and abettor.
At about noon on Saturday, Police Detective Delberth Phipps Jr. reviewed the video surveillance of Island Linen Department Store and observed two male suspects enter the business at different times and left the location with items, according to the fact sheet. The clothing that the first suspect was wearing and his whereabouts during the robbery was detailed in the fact sheet. Det. Phipps had prior knowledge of the second suspect and identified him by name, the fact sheet said.
After cutting the lock from the gate with a handheld grinder, suspect one left the establishment with a red shopping cart with a purple-colored bag inside of it. Schaffner left the establishment on bike on more than one occasion with items from the store. He took items with him on his bike, left and returned twice to retrieve more items, the fact sheet said.
Schaffner was apprehended within the area of Gamble Gade on Saturday evening around 9:40 pm.
According to Det. Phipps’s testimony, Schaffner never gave a statement to police. As a result, the identity of his co-conspirator remains unknown.
“He knows the identity of the other suspect who’s out there roaming the streets of the Virgin Islands right now,” Judge Carr said, referring to Schaffner. “What mischief the other suspect is getting themselves involved in, we don’t know just yet."
The defendant’s attorney, Mary Ann Matney of the Office of the Territorial Public Defender, requested that Schaffner be released on his own personal recognizance or on an unsecured bond as both charges are misdemeanors. However, the prosecuting attorney John Barraco requested that the bail be set at $25,000.
Judge Carr said that he would not release Schaffner under the requested conditions of the defense since he committed another crime less than a month after being released from B.O.C.'s custody in July. In addition, Schaffner has an extensive criminal history with convictions dating back to 2002.
Judge Carr ordered that Schaffner be released upon posting of 10 percent of a $25,000 bail (or $2,500 cash) amongst other conditions ordered by the court.
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