Mugshot of Myles Arnold. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man arrested on multiple weapons charges and facing a maximum prison sentence of 37 years was released to the custody of his mother along with stringent conditions pending trial.
On Monday during an advisement hearing presided over by Judge Jessica Gallivan, Myles Arnold, 21 appeared in court via teleconference from Golden Grove. He was charged with carrying a firearm openly or concealed, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; possession or sale of ammunition, which carries a maximum sentence of 7 years; and possession of an unauthorized firearm, which comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years.
Kathryn Slade, an attorney with the V.I. Office of the Public Defender, advocated for Arnold's release pending trial, stating that he had been residing in the territory since 2016 and that his mother is a native. She also listed a number of conditions as part of the release, to include the posting of bond and that he be released to the custody of his mother. Arnold is also to report to probation every Tuesday, be on a curfew of 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., and have no contact with any witnesses, requested Ms. Slade, who also added as a condition that he attend all scheduled court appearance and must not violate any laws of the territory.
V.I. Attorney Jasmine Griffin said the government did not have objections to the terms listed by Ms. Slade. "We would ask, however, that Mr. Arnold post 10 percent of the bail with the remainder unsecured," she said. The bail was set at $50,000, however Ms. Slade said Arnold was unemployed and did not have any money to post, though the suspect's mother, she said, would be able to pay $1,500 on his behalf.
Judge Gallivan accepted the $1,500 and required unsecured bond to be signed by both the suspect and his mother. She also required that during his weekly contact with the Office of Probation that he report to them the result of a work search that he is required to undertake "every week," Judge Gallivan stressed. Along with the curfew, the suspect was ordered not to leave the island without the court's written permission.
Ms. Slade sought an exception to allow Arnold's mother to post his bail the following day on Tuesday, as Monday was Memorial Day. However, Judge Gallivan refused. "No. The $1,500 is part of the security; the court's not going to allow him to be released until it's posted," she said.
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