A mugshot of the suspect was not provided at time of publishing. Photo Credit: 123RF
ST. THOMAS — A mother may be facing time behind bars after being arrested for allegedly assaulting her minor son with a deadly weapon.
Shamaleen Caraballo was arrested on January 1st after officers responded to a disturbance at her residence. Her son indicated to officers that Caraballo became irate after asking her two daughters to help her find her mirror. He said that she began yelling and screaming at the children and he asked her to stop, telling her that there was no sense in screaming at his little sisters if they couldn’t find the mirror. Caraballo then told her son “shut the [expletive] up, mind your mother [expletive] business” before telling him to go to his room, an order he defied.
The boy alleges that his mother then cut him with a flip blade on his elbow, causing him to get upset. He subsequently hit her with a sweeper stick several times and she struck him with a vacuum as he attempted to walk away to call for police assistance. The child also told police that his mother cut him with a razor to his back several times, causing him to pick up the sweeper stick to defend himself once more. Caraballo then ran to the kitchen where he followed and asked her to stop. However, according to the child, his mother picked up two kitchen knives and threatened him stating “I would kill your mother [expletive], get the [expletive] out of my house!”
He then went outside and made contact with his great grandmother who resides upstairs.
She in turn tried to deescalate the situation between mother and son. However, the minor told police that he heard his mother speaking to a 911 operator and he attempted to enter the residence but realized it was locked. He then became irate and tried to forcibly enter the house, damaging a chair and a door in the process.
When police arrived, Caraballo indicated that she was tired of her son. She reportedly told officers, “I don’t want him in my house, I will bury that boy.” Investigations revealed that it was not the first time the two had gotten embroiled in a verbal and physical altercation. The responding officers observed injuries to the child’s back, elbow and knee and noted that Caraballo had suffered a contusion to her forehead and an abrasion to the arm. She was subsequently arrested and no bail was set in the matter.
On Monday, Caraballo was advised that she faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted of third-degree assault with a deadly weapon. She is further charged with disturbance of the peace. Attorney Julie Todman recommended that the defendant be released on an unsecured bond, noting that she is the sole provider for her family. Todman also suggested that the minor appears to be in need of supervision and can be taken out of the home to reside with his great grandmother upstairs.
Assistant V.I. Attorney General Brenda Scales highlighted that Caraballo has had previous run-ins with the law, including a 2003 domestic violence conviction in South Carolina. However, Todman argued that the defendant’s prior convictions are at least 19 years old and occurred when she was in her 20’s. The attorney emphasized that Caraballo has no arrests or criminal convictions in the USVI.
At the hearing’s conclusion, Judge Paula Norkaitis informed the accused that a $15,000 bail would be imposed upon her, with no 10 perent provision. Norkaitis noted that she was open to amending the condition upon the provision of a suitable third-party custodian. The judge stressed that Caraballo may pose a flight risk due to the severity of the charges and emphasized the severity of the child’s injuries as documented by police. While the court matter is pending, Caraballo is strictly prohibited from having any form of contact with the minor who will reside on a different floor in the dwelling.
