Mugshot of Lerone Smith Jr. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Police have arrested a 29-year-old man wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a minor, bringing to a close a months-long investigation and search effort.
According to the V.I. Police Department, the case began on January 27, when the 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of a sexual assault involving a minor female. The matter was assigned to a member of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, who gathered evidence indicating that Lerone Smith Jr. was responsible for the assault.
Following the completion of the investigation, an arrest warrant for Smith Jr. was signed on June 5 by a judge of the Superior Court. Detectives attempted to locate him but were unsuccessful. A wanted person poster was then circulated through social media and news outlets to assist in the effort to apprehend him.
On September 26, members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau arrested Smith Jr. without incident. He was booked and charged with second-degree rape. Police reported that Smith Jr. was unable to post his bail, which was set at $75,000.
He has been remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility, where he will remain in custody pending his Advice of Rights Hearing scheduled for September 29, 2025, in Superior Court.
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