Mugshot of Karon Hodge. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Karon Hodge, age 34 appeared in court on Monday after disturbing claims from his ex-girlfriend that he entered her home without her permission and assaulted her.
On March 11, police were dispatched to Anna’s Retreat where they met with a woman who told them that her ex-boyfriend Karon Hodge, with whom she had been in a three-year relationship, had entered her residence around 4:00 a.m. through an unlocked door, waking her from her sleep.
The woman told the responding officers that Hodge proceeded to strangle her with both hands, cutting off her air supply while accusing her of texting another man. She says she tried to escape to the bathroom but he followed her there, arguing. The woman eventually fled to her vehicle and drove to the home of a nearby friend.
When she got there, the woman told police that she got out of the vehicle and began pounding on her friend’s door for help. However, Hodge, who had reportedly trailed her movements, grabbed her by the neck, pushing and dragging her back to her vehicle where he began once again to berate her.
Once again the woman says she managed to escape her ex-lover, but when she went back to her home to retrieve her cell phone, Hodge cornered her there again, and she says once again he wrapped his hands around her throat. This time, she was able to call for police assistance, whereupon Hodge fled the residence.
Although she declined medical attention, responding officers noted injuries to the left side of the woman’s face, left knee, left foot and the right side of her neck. Investigations revealed that this was not the first time that she and her ex-boyfriend had gotten into such an altercation.
During a search of Estate Tutu, Hodge was apprehended and placed under arrest for second-degree assault as an act of domestic violence, unlawful entry as an act of domestic violence, grand larceny and disturbance of the peace.
During his advice of rights hearing on Monday, a judge ruled that he be allowed to post $500 of his $1,000 bail amount to secure his release. Hodge will be barred from leaving the St. Thomas- St. John district and must report to the probation office once a week. He must abide by a daily curfew of 11pm to 7am and maintain a minimum distance of 1,000 ft away from the alleged victim. He is further barred from entering her residence. Hodge is prohibited from abusing alcohol or any controlled substance as well as possessing a firearm, ammunition or dangerous weapon.
