Mugshot of Felipe Felix. Photo Credit: VI DEPT. OF JUSTICE
The V.I. Dept. of Justice announced Thursday that 62-year-old registered sex offender Felipe Felix was taken into custody in Tuesday for unauthorized possession of a firearm. The arrest took place as part of the annual Sex Offender “Keeping Watch” Operation in the St. Croix District.
The operation, which is a collaborated effort between the DOJ Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) Unit, V.I. Superior Court Probation Officers, VIPD, and the U.S. Marshals Service, resulted in Felix's swift apprehension, according to the release.
Following his arrest, Felix was presented before the V.I. Superior Court on Wednesday, where the court found probable cause for his detention.
Charged with 2253 unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition, Felix's bail has been set at $50,000. To secure his release, he must post $5,000 in cash and sign an unsecured bond of $45,000.
Should Felix post bail, stringent conditions have been laid out for his release. He would be subjected to a 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring, overseen by a third-party custodian. He would be permitted to leave his residence only under specific circumstances, such as court appearances, meeting with his attorney, hospital emergencies, or reporting to the Office of Probation. Furthermore, Felix will need to surrender his passport and refrain from leaving the territory.
Highlighting the gravity of his offenses, Felix has been classified as a Tier III sexual offender due to his conviction in New York for Sexual Abuse 1st, involving contact with a child under 11 years, dating back to 1999. Moreover, Felix, who is currently on parole for a felony conviction, is subject to unannounced visits and searches. During a routine check, Probation Officers discovered a .22 caliber Ruger long rifle handgun with ammunition in Felix's residence. VIPD Firearms records confirmed that Felix did not possess a valid gun license, leading to his arrest.
USVI law mandates strict regulations for registered sexual offenders. They are required to provide extensive personal information to the VIDOJ, and the SORNA Unit routinely inspects to verify the accuracy of this data. Non-compliance results in severe penalties, including hefty fines or jail time. The public can access the sex offender registry at https://usvi.nsopw.gov.
V.I. Attorney General Ariel Smith emphasized the importance of these operations and the commitment of the involved departments in ensuring the safety and security of the community.
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