Mugshot of George Matthew Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man has been charged with burglary, destruction of property and disturbance of the peace after he allegedly forced his way into his girlfriend’s apartment and threatened to kill her. The suspect is also said to have broken windows and doors, and later admitted to police that he needed help for alcoholism.
George Matthew was arrested after his girlfriend made a report to police, stating that she feared for her life. The woman says that around 10:00 p.m. on November 5th Matthew left her apartment and she told him not to return if he leaves. According to the woman, she told him that she would not open the door if he came back. She says she locked her door after Matthew left, but around midnight she heard a loud banging and her young child informed her that Matthew was banging on the front door. She instructed the child not to open the door.
The woman told police that she and the child went to the living room where she stood at the door and advised Mathew to stop banging on her door and leave. However, he ignored her request and continued banging while accusing the alleged victim of having another man in the house. "I'm going to kill you," he said to the woman, according to the probable cause fact sheet.
The woman further alleged that she observed Matthew pulling the aluminum window louvers until he managed to remove them and subsequently forced his way into her residence, causing her and her child to run into her bedroom. The alleged victim said that while she tried to close the bedroom door, Matthew kept pushing it to forcefully gain entry while threatening her with death based on his accusation that she harbored another man in the house.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, the woman then told the alleged aggressor that she was calling the police, at which point he kicked in the door. She said she heard glass breaking and chairs being thrown before Matthew eventually left.
The responding officers discovered that several louvers were removed from the front door, the wooden bedroom door was cracked and broken beer bottles were inside the residence. The woman stated that while Mathew did not physically assault her, he verbally abused her and she feared for her life. He was later arrested and during his statement, he admitted that he was under the influence of alcohol and present at the woman’s apartment. He further admitted to willfully damaging her front food and bedroom door. He was charged and transported to the Golden Grove Correctional Facility to await his advisement hearing.
At the virtual hearing which took place on Wednesday, the public defender representing Matthew requested that he be allowed release on the signing of an unsecured bond in the amount of $1000. Attorney Vanessa Hewitt- Quinland who appeared for the people did not object to this recommendation. The hearing concluded with the judge granting the request and informing Matthew that he is prohibited from entering the premises where his girlfriend resides. He has been granted one opportunity to retrieve his personal belongings under the escort of a police officer. The defendant is also required to surrender his passport and cannot leave the territory without the court’s permission while the matter remains pending.
During the virtual proceedings, it was revealed that Matthew asked a police officer to get him help for an alcohol problem and that steps had been taken to assist him in finding the help he desires.
Matthew faces a maximum incarceration of 15 years if convicted of burglary in the second degree. Meanwhile, the offense of destruction of property carries a maximum imprisonment of one year, a fine not exceeding $200, or both a fine and imprisonment. If found guilty of disturbance of the peace by issuing threats, he faces a prison sentence of not more than 90 days, a maximum fine of $100, or both. All three offenses have been categorized as crimes of domestic violence.
Advertisements
